Sally Bradshaw
 |  Guest columnist

Gilbert King knows a thing or two about justice gone wrong.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his best-selling “Devil in the Grove,” which exposed corrupt Lake County, Florida, Sheriff Willis McCall and his pursuit of the Groveland Boys, King followed up with “Beneath a Ruthless Sun,” yet another McCall conspiracy at a time when Southern fears of integration were running high.

But King’s latest work, “Bone Valley,” is a much more personal story than these earlier tales. The 1987 conviction of Polk countian Leo Schofield in the murder of his young wife Michelle is the subject of this captivating story. After years of research and thousands of hours of interviews, King’s advocacy of Schofield’s innocence forms the basis for “Bone Valley” and a popular podcast of the same title.

At 6 p.m. Oct. 15, he’ll bring his book tour to FSU’s College of Law, which will co-host with Midtown Reader bookstore. And he will be joined in conversation by Leo Schofield and FSU Law Professor Erika Nyborg-Burch.

Here’s a recap of our conversation with King.

Journey to ‘Bone Valley’

Q. (Sally Bradshaw). How did you first hear about Leo’s Schofield’s story?

A. (Gilbert King) I was first tipped off to Leo’s story while speaking at a judicial conference in Naples in 2018. Judge Scott Cupp handed me his business card and told me there was an innocent man in prison whose case he wanted me to hear about. That brief exchange ultimately led to Bone Valley.

Personal story

Q. You’ve written about legal system corruption in Florida with previous books but I have a sense this story is more personal for you. Is that accurate to say? And if so, why?

A. In my earlier Florida books, set in the 1940s and ’50s, most of the people at the heart of those stories were long gone by the time I began my investigations. Leo’s case was different. He was alive, out of legal options, and his only hope for justice was through the telling of his story. After years of research and investigation, I knew I could challenge the official narrative of his case, but I also understood it might change nothing—that he could remain incarcerated. The deeper I dug into the injustice, the more personally invested I became in trying to ensure his story led to a more just outcome.

Power of a podcast

Q. You chose a podcast to tell the story before you wrote a book about it. What made you decide to use that media format first to tell Leo’s story?

A. The main reason I started with a podcast is that Michelle, Leo’s wife, was only 18 when she was killed in 1987, and so many of her friends, family members, and witnesses were still alive and willing to talk. I could interview them directly. And when I visited Leo in prison and asked him to recount the most painful moments of his life, it became clear he was a powerful storyteller — his voice was deeply compelling. I wanted listeners to hear exactly what I was hearing in those conversations. I eventually realized I had to write a book because the story was so much bigger than what could fit in a podcast, and I wanted to return to the form of writing to tell it fully.

Legal status

Q. What is Leo’s current legal status? And how is health following a recent motorcycle accident?

A. Leo is on parole, living with his wife, Crissie, and still regarded by the State as a convicted felon—something that must be corrected. He’s slowly recovering from multiple surgeries after his motorcycle accident. But he’s walking again, and with his wrists finally healing, he’s especially grateful to be able to play guitar once more.

Stories of injustice

Q. As a writer, what draws you to any story? What are you looking for when you decide to write a book?

A. I’ve been drawn to stories of injustice for as long as I can remember. They satisfy this lifelong obsession I have with finding out what really happened in a case, and then telling the story in a way that reveals the deeper truth. But for me to commit years of research and investigation, there also has to be something compelling that hooks me—a memorable character, an extraordinary turn of events, or something unexpected that won’t let me go. I’ve been pretty lucky to find these kinds of stories in Florida.

‘Fascinating’ Florida

Q. You live in New York now, but it’s hard to not consider you an honorary Floridian given your previous books. What is it about Florida that continues to provide such a ripe environment for authors?

A. I think Florida is a fascinating microcosm of America — it has incredible diversity, sharp contrasts in wealth and poverty, beauty right alongside corruption, and a history that keeps repeating itself in surprising ways. What makes it especially meaningful for me is the people I meet here — academics, politicians, prosecutors, defense attorneys, even Florida Supreme Court justices — who have been remarkably supportive of my work.

Thanks to the Sunshine Law, Florida also offers extraordinary access to records, which makes investigating these cases possible. But what I admire most is the state’s willingness to confront and correct its injustices. One of Ron DeSantis’ first acts as governor was to pardon the Groveland Boys, which ultimately led to their exonerations.

That told me that storytelling really can make a difference, and that Florida understands the integrity of its judicial system depends on righting past wrongs. That gives me confidence that Leo Schofield’s wrongful conviction will one day be corrected too.

Another Florida story?

Q. What’s next for Gilbert King? What’s next for Leo Schofield?

A. I don’t exactly know what’s next for me, but I can promise it will be another story set in Florida. This state remains an endless source of stories that matter. As for Leo, after 36 years in prison, he’s just beginning to write his own story —this time as a free man, but carrying the weight of parole. I think the world is only starting to hear from him, and I can’t wait to see where his voice and perspective take him.

Sally Bradshaw is the owner of Midtown Reader bookstore.

If you go

What: Conversation with Gilbert King, Leo Schofield and FSU Law Professor Erika Nyborg-Burch

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.15

Where: FSU College of Law, Classroom 101, 425 West Jefferson St.

Tickets: $38.99 includes ticket and one signed book; visit midtownreader.com