‘I believe he’s innocent’: Daniel Holtzclaw’s family fights for his freedom 10 years post-conviction
By Chantelle Navarro
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OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — Ten years ago, Daniel Holtzclaw, still in his Oklahoma City police uniform, walked into an interrogation room.
Detectives brought him in for questioning after two separate women reported that they were sexually assaulted by an Oklahoma City police officer.
“She’s saying that you made her lift up her shirt,” the detective said. “Did your pants come unzipped, unbuttoned, anything while you were standing right there?”
“No,” Daniel Holtzclaw responded.
“Any way your skin cells are going to be anywhere on her mouth?” the detective asked.
“No,” Daniel Holtzclaw responded. “Sir, I’m sticking with my story.”
Daniel Holtzclaw maintained that innocence throughout his trial, where he was accused of raping eight Black women. He was convicted of 18 counts of rape, sexual battery and more in 2015.
Prosecutors said he attacked the women while on the job as an officer.
On Wednesday, Daniel Holtzclaw’s 39th birthday and the 10-year anniversary of his conviction, a group of his supporters stood in front of the Oklahoma Judicial Center, insisting that new evidence will set him free.
“Today marks 10 years since the verdict that changed all of our lives. The day judgment was made. Not on truth, but on a story crafted to fit a narrative,” Jenny Holtzclaw, Daniel’s sister, said.
His sister is pushing for a retrial. She was joined by attorneys and even some former law enforcement officials.
“I believe he’s innocent. I believe he was not given a fair trial. I think he had inadequate counsel, basically comatose counsel, that did not even question or, you know, try to get any of the evidence suppressed,” Betsy Randolph, who retired from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, said.
His supporters claim that secret meetings were held to set Daniel up as part of a conspiracy.
Video from Daniel Holtzclaw’s questioning shows him take off his uniform pants, which the district attorney heavily relied on for DNA evidence.
But forensic critics, including independent experts, questioned whether DNA results were misinterpreted or overstated.
Supporters launched a website to upload new evidence to help clear him of his charges, including never-before-seen interviews. Most of the links were empty as of Wednesday.
In 2019, his appeal was denied, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined a petition from him.
The Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office told KOCO on Wednesday that there is nothing to comment on since there is no pending post-conviction application.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s Office said it has reviewed the case thoroughly and believes justice was found the first time around.
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