Sally Bradshaw
\n\u00a0|\u00a0 Guest columnist<\/p>\n
Gilbert King knows a thing or two about justice gone wrong.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But King\u2019s 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\u2019s advocacy of Schofield\u2019s innocence forms the basis for “Bone Valley” and a popular podcast of the same title.<\/p>\n
At 6 p.m. Oct. 15, he\u2019ll bring his book tour to FSU\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Here’s a recap of our conversation with King.<\/p>\n
Journey to ‘Bone Valley’<\/p>\n
Q. (Sally Bradshaw). How did you first hear about Leo\u2019s Schofield\u2019s story?<\/p>\n
A. (Gilbert King) I was first tipped off to Leo\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Personal story<\/p>\n
Q. You\u2019ve 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?<\/p>\n
A. In my earlier Florida books, set in the 1940s and \u201950s, most of the people at the heart of those stories were long gone by the time I began my investigations. Leo\u2019s 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\u2014that 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.<\/p>\n
Power of a podcast<\/p>\n
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\u2019s story?<\/p>\n
A. The main reason I started with a podcast is that Michelle, Leo\u2019s 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 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
Legal status<\/p>\n
Q. What is Leo\u2019s current legal status? And how is health following a recent motorcycle accident?<\/p>\n
A. Leo is on parole, living with his wife, Crissie, and still regarded by the State as a convicted felon\u2014something that must be corrected. He\u2019s slowly recovering from multiple surgeries after his motorcycle accident. But he\u2019s walking again, and with his wrists finally healing, he\u2019s especially grateful to be able to play guitar once more.<\/p>\n
Stories of injustice<\/p>\n
Q. As a writer, what draws you to any story? What are you looking for when you decide to write a book?<\/p>\n
A. I\u2019ve 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\u2014a memorable character, an extraordinary turn of events, or something unexpected that won\u2019t let me go. I\u2019ve been pretty lucky to find these kinds of stories in Florida.<\/p>\n
‘Fascinating’ Florida<\/p>\n
Q. You live in New York now, but it\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n
A. I think Florida is a fascinating microcosm of America \u2014 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 \u2014 academics, politicians, prosecutors, defense attorneys, even Florida Supreme Court justices \u2014 who have been remarkably supportive of my work.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s willingness to confront and correct its injustices. One of Ron DeSantis\u2019 first acts as governor was to pardon the Groveland Boys, which ultimately led to their exonerations.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s wrongful conviction will one day be corrected too.<\/p>\n
Another Florida story?<\/p>\n
Q. What\u2019s next for Gilbert King? What\u2019s next for Leo Schofield?<\/p>\n
A. I don\u2019t exactly know what\u2019s 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\u2019s just beginning to write his own story \u2014this 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\u2019t wait to see where his voice and perspective take him.<\/p>\n
Sally Bradshaw is the owner of Midtown Reader bookstore.<\/p>\n
If you go<\/p>\n
What: Conversation with Gilbert King, Leo Schofield and FSU Law Professor Erika Nyborg-Burch<\/p>\n
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.15<\/p>\n
Where: FSU College of Law, Classroom 101, 425 West Jefferson St.<\/p>\n