State of Colorado prisoner # 19845, convicted of participating in a brutal rape and murder (but read the text of the pardon below which provides convincing evidence of a false confession, wrongful conviction and application of the death penalty) and executed at the Colorado State Penitentiary (gas chamber) on January 6, 1939. Seventy two years later, on January 7, 2011, outgoing Colorado Governor Bill Ritter granted a posthumous pardon to Joe Arridy. The complete text (which aptly tells the story of Joe Arridy) of Gov. Ritter's executive order for granting the pardon:
*********************
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Governor of the State of Colorado by Article IV, Section 7 of the Colorado Constitution, I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order granting a posthumous pardon to Joe Arridy.
I. Background
In 1937, Joe Arridy was convicted of one count of murder. He was sentenced to death and executed by lethal gas at the Colorado State Penitentiary on January 6, 1939. Granting a pardon is an extraordinary remedy and granting aposthumous pardon is a particularly extraordinary remedy. The tragic conviction of Mr. Arridy and his subsequent execution merit such relief based on the most compelling mental disability at the time of his trial and execution.
Even a brief overview of some of the more salient facts pointing to his innocence is sufficient to demonstrate that it is unlikely that Mr. Arridy had any involvement in the murder of Dorothy Drain. Mr. Arridy had an I.Q. of 46. At ten years of age, he was committed by the Pueblo County Court to the State Home and Training for Mental Defectives Grand Junction. On August 8, 1936, he ran away with some other boys from the institution and jumped on a train. On August 24, 1936, Sheriff George Carroll of Cheyenne, Wyoming reported that Mr. Arridy had confessed to the murder and sexual assault of 15-year-old Dorothy Drain, who was killed in Pueblo sometime in the night or early in the morning on August 16, 1936. Indeed, there was compelling evidence that Mr. Arridy was not even in Pueblo at the time of the murder.
The confession, which only Sheriff Caroll (sic) heard, was full of contradictions and inaccuracies. Worse, the confession was clearly false, including statements that he acted alone and that he killed her with a blunt instrument instead of a hatchet, which was conclusively proven to be the case. On August 20, 1936, Frank Aguilar was arrested at Ms. Drain's funeral in Pueblo, and he was also charged with her murder. Faced with the inconsistencies and inaccuracies in Mr. Arridy's initial confession, Sheriff Caroll (sic) obtained a second false confession in which he changed his story to indicate that he was with Mr. Aguilar when he murdered her instead of acting aone as he stated in his first confession. Mr. Aguilar had, however, always maintained that he had never met Mr. Arridy. During his own trial, Mr. Agular confessed his guilt to his attorney. In fact, the murder weapon, which was a hatchet with distinctive notches in the blade that matched Ms. Drain's wounds, was found in Mr. Aguilar's home hidden in a basket covered by rags. At an insanity hearing, Mr. Arridy testified that he had never seen a hatchet and did not even know what a hatchet was. Mr. Aguilar was found guilty at trial, and he was executed on August 17, 1937.
Although it does not relate to his innocence, the facts surrounding Mr. Arridy's execution were nothing short of appalling. In a sworn affidavitt, Dr. B. L. Jefferson, who was the Superintendent of the State Home and Training School for Mental Defectives at Grand Junction, Colorado opined that Mr. Arridy "has the mind of a child of not to exceed six and one-half years of age and was not capable of giving either a dependable confession or of testifying and defending himself on the witness stand."
Mr. Arridy's actions on death row demonstrate all too clearly the accuracy of Dr. Jefferson's evaluation. The warden referred to him as the "happiest man to ever llive on death row." He happily spent his days playing with a toy train and a toy automobile. Mr. Arridy clearly had no idea that he was about to be executed by the State of Colorado. For his last three meals, he requested nothing but ice cream-exactly what any child would do if they were told that they could eat anything they requested. Father Albert Schaller, O.S.B., affirmed that he did not understand that he was going to die. In light of his intellectual disabillity, Father Schaffer determined that under Catholic doctrine he should administer last rites to Mr. Arridy as if he was a child. During the administration of these last rights, Mr. Arridy complied with Father Schaller's request for him to put down his toy train and say prayers. Devastatingly, Father Schaller had to lead him through the Lord's Prayer two words at a time, for this is all that Mr. Arridy could remember.
His posthumous pardon is not being viewed solely through the lenses of 2011 norms. Numerous people at the time found it unconsionable that Mr. Arridy was sentenced to death. Gail Ireland, who went on to become the Colorado Attorney General, agreed to represent Mr. Arridy pro bono after his conviction. Throughout his representation of Mr. Arridy, Mr. Ireland obtained at that time an unprecedented number of stays of his execution from the Colorado Supreme Court-all by 4-3 votes. Notably, every time Mr. Arridy was informed that his execution had been stayed he showed no reaction and merely continued to play with his toys. Chief Justice Bakke made the following statement in an opinion denying one of Mr Arridy's appeals"
"[A]cknowledgement should be made of the commendable effort on the part of the defendant's counsel and others to save Arridy fro mthe death sentence. We are aware that such effort was prompted by the highest motives which move the hearts and minds of men, but until such time as the race, in its evolutionary process, can work out a more intelligent solution of cases such as is here presented, it remains the duty of the courts only, to safeguard the rights of the defendant and see that has a fair and impartial trial under the law of the state as it now is, not under what we wish it might or should or may be at some time in the future." Arridy v. People, 82 P 2d 757, 761 Colo (1938).
Fortunately, the law has evolved in just the manner contemplated by Justice Bakke. Under current law it would be unconstitutional to execute a person such as Mr. Arridy. In 2002, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Atkins v. Virginia that "executions of mentally retarded criminals are 'cruel and unusual punishments' prohibited by the Eight Amendment" 536 U.S. 304, 311-12 (2002). The Court stated in an earlier case ethat the "basic concept underlying the Eight Amendment is nothing less that the dignity of man . . . The Amendment must draw its meaning for the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society." Trop v. Dallas, 356 U.S. 86, 100-01 (1958).
Pardoning Mr. Arridy cannot undo this tragic event in Colorado history, It is in the interest of justice and simple deceny, however, to restore his good name. Granting this pardon demonstrates that Colorado has, in fact, matured in its understanding of mental disability.
II. Grant of Clemency
Joe Arridy be and hereby is granted a full and unconditional pardon of the above described conviction.
GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado this seventh day of January, 2011.
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
**********************
*********************
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Governor of the State of Colorado by Article IV, Section 7 of the Colorado Constitution, I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order granting a posthumous pardon to Joe Arridy.
I. Background
In 1937, Joe Arridy was convicted of one count of murder. He was sentenced to death and executed by lethal gas at the Colorado State Penitentiary on January 6, 1939. Granting a pardon is an extraordinary remedy and granting aposthumous pardon is a particularly extraordinary remedy. The tragic conviction of Mr. Arridy and his subsequent execution merit such relief based on the most compelling mental disability at the time of his trial and execution.
Even a brief overview of some of the more salient facts pointing to his innocence is sufficient to demonstrate that it is unlikely that Mr. Arridy had any involvement in the murder of Dorothy Drain. Mr. Arridy had an I.Q. of 46. At ten years of age, he was committed by the Pueblo County Court to the State Home and Training for Mental Defectives Grand Junction. On August 8, 1936, he ran away with some other boys from the institution and jumped on a train. On August 24, 1936, Sheriff George Carroll of Cheyenne, Wyoming reported that Mr. Arridy had confessed to the murder and sexual assault of 15-year-old Dorothy Drain, who was killed in Pueblo sometime in the night or early in the morning on August 16, 1936. Indeed, there was compelling evidence that Mr. Arridy was not even in Pueblo at the time of the murder.
The confession, which only Sheriff Caroll (sic) heard, was full of contradictions and inaccuracies. Worse, the confession was clearly false, including statements that he acted alone and that he killed her with a blunt instrument instead of a hatchet, which was conclusively proven to be the case. On August 20, 1936, Frank Aguilar was arrested at Ms. Drain's funeral in Pueblo, and he was also charged with her murder. Faced with the inconsistencies and inaccuracies in Mr. Arridy's initial confession, Sheriff Caroll (sic) obtained a second false confession in which he changed his story to indicate that he was with Mr. Aguilar when he murdered her instead of acting aone as he stated in his first confession. Mr. Aguilar had, however, always maintained that he had never met Mr. Arridy. During his own trial, Mr. Agular confessed his guilt to his attorney. In fact, the murder weapon, which was a hatchet with distinctive notches in the blade that matched Ms. Drain's wounds, was found in Mr. Aguilar's home hidden in a basket covered by rags. At an insanity hearing, Mr. Arridy testified that he had never seen a hatchet and did not even know what a hatchet was. Mr. Aguilar was found guilty at trial, and he was executed on August 17, 1937.
Although it does not relate to his innocence, the facts surrounding Mr. Arridy's execution were nothing short of appalling. In a sworn affidavitt, Dr. B. L. Jefferson, who was the Superintendent of the State Home and Training School for Mental Defectives at Grand Junction, Colorado opined that Mr. Arridy "has the mind of a child of not to exceed six and one-half years of age and was not capable of giving either a dependable confession or of testifying and defending himself on the witness stand."
Mr. Arridy's actions on death row demonstrate all too clearly the accuracy of Dr. Jefferson's evaluation. The warden referred to him as the "happiest man to ever llive on death row." He happily spent his days playing with a toy train and a toy automobile. Mr. Arridy clearly had no idea that he was about to be executed by the State of Colorado. For his last three meals, he requested nothing but ice cream-exactly what any child would do if they were told that they could eat anything they requested. Father Albert Schaller, O.S.B., affirmed that he did not understand that he was going to die. In light of his intellectual disabillity, Father Schaffer determined that under Catholic doctrine he should administer last rites to Mr. Arridy as if he was a child. During the administration of these last rights, Mr. Arridy complied with Father Schaller's request for him to put down his toy train and say prayers. Devastatingly, Father Schaller had to lead him through the Lord's Prayer two words at a time, for this is all that Mr. Arridy could remember.
His posthumous pardon is not being viewed solely through the lenses of 2011 norms. Numerous people at the time found it unconsionable that Mr. Arridy was sentenced to death. Gail Ireland, who went on to become the Colorado Attorney General, agreed to represent Mr. Arridy pro bono after his conviction. Throughout his representation of Mr. Arridy, Mr. Ireland obtained at that time an unprecedented number of stays of his execution from the Colorado Supreme Court-all by 4-3 votes. Notably, every time Mr. Arridy was informed that his execution had been stayed he showed no reaction and merely continued to play with his toys. Chief Justice Bakke made the following statement in an opinion denying one of Mr Arridy's appeals"
"[A]cknowledgement should be made of the commendable effort on the part of the defendant's counsel and others to save Arridy fro mthe death sentence. We are aware that such effort was prompted by the highest motives which move the hearts and minds of men, but until such time as the race, in its evolutionary process, can work out a more intelligent solution of cases such as is here presented, it remains the duty of the courts only, to safeguard the rights of the defendant and see that has a fair and impartial trial under the law of the state as it now is, not under what we wish it might or should or may be at some time in the future." Arridy v. People, 82 P 2d 757, 761 Colo (1938).
Fortunately, the law has evolved in just the manner contemplated by Justice Bakke. Under current law it would be unconstitutional to execute a person such as Mr. Arridy. In 2002, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Atkins v. Virginia that "executions of mentally retarded criminals are 'cruel and unusual punishments' prohibited by the Eight Amendment" 536 U.S. 304, 311-12 (2002). The Court stated in an earlier case ethat the "basic concept underlying the Eight Amendment is nothing less that the dignity of man . . . The Amendment must draw its meaning for the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society." Trop v. Dallas, 356 U.S. 86, 100-01 (1958).
Pardoning Mr. Arridy cannot undo this tragic event in Colorado history, It is in the interest of justice and simple deceny, however, to restore his good name. Granting this pardon demonstrates that Colorado has, in fact, matured in its understanding of mental disability.
II. Grant of Clemency
Joe Arridy be and hereby is granted a full and unconditional pardon of the above described conviction.
GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado this seventh day of January, 2011.
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
**********************
State of Colorado prisoner # 19845, convicted of participating in a brutal rape and murder (but read the text of the pardon below which provides convincing evidence of a false confession, wrongful conviction and application of the death penalty) and executed at the Colorado State Penitentiary (gas chamber) on January 6, 1939. Seventy two years later, on January 7, 2011, outgoing Colorado Governor Bill Ritter granted a posthumous pardon to Joe Arridy. The complete text (which aptly tells the story of Joe Arridy) of Gov. Ritter's executive order for granting the pardon:
*********************
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Governor of the State of Colorado by Article IV, Section 7 of the Colorado Constitution, I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order granting a posthumous pardon to Joe Arridy.
I. Background
In 1937, Joe Arridy was convicted of one count of murder. He was sentenced to death and executed by lethal gas at the Colorado State Penitentiary on January 6, 1939. Granting a pardon is an extraordinary remedy and granting aposthumous pardon is a particularly extraordinary remedy. The tragic conviction of Mr. Arridy and his subsequent execution merit such relief based on the most compelling mental disability at the time of his trial and execution.
Even a brief overview of some of the more salient facts pointing to his innocence is sufficient to demonstrate that it is unlikely that Mr. Arridy had any involvement in the murder of Dorothy Drain. Mr. Arridy had an I.Q. of 46. At ten years of age, he was committed by the Pueblo County Court to the State Home and Training for Mental Defectives Grand Junction. On August 8, 1936, he ran away with some other boys from the institution and jumped on a train. On August 24, 1936, Sheriff George Carroll of Cheyenne, Wyoming reported that Mr. Arridy had confessed to the murder and sexual assault of 15-year-old Dorothy Drain, who was killed in Pueblo sometime in the night or early in the morning on August 16, 1936. Indeed, there was compelling evidence that Mr. Arridy was not even in Pueblo at the time of the murder.
The confession, which only Sheriff Caroll (sic) heard, was full of contradictions and inaccuracies. Worse, the confession was clearly false, including statements that he acted alone and that he killed her with a blunt instrument instead of a hatchet, which was conclusively proven to be the case. On August 20, 1936, Frank Aguilar was arrested at Ms. Drain's funeral in Pueblo, and he was also charged with her murder. Faced with the inconsistencies and inaccuracies in Mr. Arridy's initial confession, Sheriff Caroll (sic) obtained a second false confession in which he changed his story to indicate that he was with Mr. Aguilar when he murdered her instead of acting aone as he stated in his first confession. Mr. Aguilar had, however, always maintained that he had never met Mr. Arridy. During his own trial, Mr. Agular confessed his guilt to his attorney. In fact, the murder weapon, which was a hatchet with distinctive notches in the blade that matched Ms. Drain's wounds, was found in Mr. Aguilar's home hidden in a basket covered by rags. At an insanity hearing, Mr. Arridy testified that he had never seen a hatchet and did not even know what a hatchet was. Mr. Aguilar was found guilty at trial, and he was executed on August 17, 1937.
Although it does not relate to his innocence, the facts surrounding Mr. Arridy's execution were nothing short of appalling. In a sworn affidavitt, Dr. B. L. Jefferson, who was the Superintendent of the State Home and Training School for Mental Defectives at Grand Junction, Colorado opined that Mr. Arridy "has the mind of a child of not to exceed six and one-half years of age and was not capable of giving either a dependable confession or of testifying and defending himself on the witness stand."
Mr. Arridy's actions on death row demonstrate all too clearly the accuracy of Dr. Jefferson's evaluation. The warden referred to him as the "happiest man to ever llive on death row." He happily spent his days playing with a toy train and a toy automobile. Mr. Arridy clearly had no idea that he was about to be executed by the State of Colorado. For his last three meals, he requested nothing but ice cream-exactly what any child would do if they were told that they could eat anything they requested. Father Albert Schaller, O.S.B., affirmed that he did not understand that he was going to die. In light of his intellectual disabillity, Father Schaffer determined that under Catholic doctrine he should administer last rites to Mr. Arridy as if he was a child. During the administration of these last rights, Mr. Arridy complied with Father Schaller's request for him to put down his toy train and say prayers. Devastatingly, Father Schaller had to lead him through the Lord's Prayer two words at a time, for this is all that Mr. Arridy could remember.
His posthumous pardon is not being viewed solely through the lenses of 2011 norms. Numerous people at the time found it unconsionable that Mr. Arridy was sentenced to death. Gail Ireland, who went on to become the Colorado Attorney General, agreed to represent Mr. Arridy pro bono after his conviction. Throughout his representation of Mr. Arridy, Mr. Ireland obtained at that time an unprecedented number of stays of his execution from the Colorado Supreme Court-all by 4-3 votes. Notably, every time Mr. Arridy was informed that his execution had been stayed he showed no reaction and merely continued to play with his toys. Chief Justice Bakke made the following statement in an opinion denying one of Mr Arridy's appeals"
"[A]cknowledgement should be made of the commendable effort on the part of the defendant's counsel and others to save Arridy fro mthe death sentence. We are aware that such effort was prompted by the highest motives which move the hearts and minds of men, but until such time as the race, in its evolutionary process, can work out a more intelligent solution of cases such as is here presented, it remains the duty of the courts only, to safeguard the rights of the defendant and see that has a fair and impartial trial under the law of the state as it now is, not under what we wish it might or should or may be at some time in the future." Arridy v. People, 82 P 2d 757, 761 Colo (1938).
Fortunately, the law has evolved in just the manner contemplated by Justice Bakke. Under current law it would be unconstitutional to execute a person such as Mr. Arridy. In 2002, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Atkins v. Virginia that "executions of mentally retarded criminals are 'cruel and unusual punishments' prohibited by the Eight Amendment" 536 U.S. 304, 311-12 (2002). The Court stated in an earlier case ethat the "basic concept underlying the Eight Amendment is nothing less that the dignity of man . . . The Amendment must draw its meaning for the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society." Trop v. Dallas, 356 U.S. 86, 100-01 (1958).
Pardoning Mr. Arridy cannot undo this tragic event in Colorado history, It is in the interest of justice and simple deceny, however, to restore his good name. Granting this pardon demonstrates that Colorado has, in fact, matured in its understanding of mental disability.
II. Grant of Clemency
Joe Arridy be and hereby is granted a full and unconditional pardon of the above described conviction.
GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado this seventh day of January, 2011.
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
**********************
*********************
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Governor of the State of Colorado by Article IV, Section 7 of the Colorado Constitution, I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order granting a posthumous pardon to Joe Arridy.
I. Background
In 1937, Joe Arridy was convicted of one count of murder. He was sentenced to death and executed by lethal gas at the Colorado State Penitentiary on January 6, 1939. Granting a pardon is an extraordinary remedy and granting aposthumous pardon is a particularly extraordinary remedy. The tragic conviction of Mr. Arridy and his subsequent execution merit such relief based on the most compelling mental disability at the time of his trial and execution.
Even a brief overview of some of the more salient facts pointing to his innocence is sufficient to demonstrate that it is unlikely that Mr. Arridy had any involvement in the murder of Dorothy Drain. Mr. Arridy had an I.Q. of 46. At ten years of age, he was committed by the Pueblo County Court to the State Home and Training for Mental Defectives Grand Junction. On August 8, 1936, he ran away with some other boys from the institution and jumped on a train. On August 24, 1936, Sheriff George Carroll of Cheyenne, Wyoming reported that Mr. Arridy had confessed to the murder and sexual assault of 15-year-old Dorothy Drain, who was killed in Pueblo sometime in the night or early in the morning on August 16, 1936. Indeed, there was compelling evidence that Mr. Arridy was not even in Pueblo at the time of the murder.
The confession, which only Sheriff Caroll (sic) heard, was full of contradictions and inaccuracies. Worse, the confession was clearly false, including statements that he acted alone and that he killed her with a blunt instrument instead of a hatchet, which was conclusively proven to be the case. On August 20, 1936, Frank Aguilar was arrested at Ms. Drain's funeral in Pueblo, and he was also charged with her murder. Faced with the inconsistencies and inaccuracies in Mr. Arridy's initial confession, Sheriff Caroll (sic) obtained a second false confession in which he changed his story to indicate that he was with Mr. Aguilar when he murdered her instead of acting aone as he stated in his first confession. Mr. Aguilar had, however, always maintained that he had never met Mr. Arridy. During his own trial, Mr. Agular confessed his guilt to his attorney. In fact, the murder weapon, which was a hatchet with distinctive notches in the blade that matched Ms. Drain's wounds, was found in Mr. Aguilar's home hidden in a basket covered by rags. At an insanity hearing, Mr. Arridy testified that he had never seen a hatchet and did not even know what a hatchet was. Mr. Aguilar was found guilty at trial, and he was executed on August 17, 1937.
Although it does not relate to his innocence, the facts surrounding Mr. Arridy's execution were nothing short of appalling. In a sworn affidavitt, Dr. B. L. Jefferson, who was the Superintendent of the State Home and Training School for Mental Defectives at Grand Junction, Colorado opined that Mr. Arridy "has the mind of a child of not to exceed six and one-half years of age and was not capable of giving either a dependable confession or of testifying and defending himself on the witness stand."
Mr. Arridy's actions on death row demonstrate all too clearly the accuracy of Dr. Jefferson's evaluation. The warden referred to him as the "happiest man to ever llive on death row." He happily spent his days playing with a toy train and a toy automobile. Mr. Arridy clearly had no idea that he was about to be executed by the State of Colorado. For his last three meals, he requested nothing but ice cream-exactly what any child would do if they were told that they could eat anything they requested. Father Albert Schaller, O.S.B., affirmed that he did not understand that he was going to die. In light of his intellectual disabillity, Father Schaffer determined that under Catholic doctrine he should administer last rites to Mr. Arridy as if he was a child. During the administration of these last rights, Mr. Arridy complied with Father Schaller's request for him to put down his toy train and say prayers. Devastatingly, Father Schaller had to lead him through the Lord's Prayer two words at a time, for this is all that Mr. Arridy could remember.
His posthumous pardon is not being viewed solely through the lenses of 2011 norms. Numerous people at the time found it unconsionable that Mr. Arridy was sentenced to death. Gail Ireland, who went on to become the Colorado Attorney General, agreed to represent Mr. Arridy pro bono after his conviction. Throughout his representation of Mr. Arridy, Mr. Ireland obtained at that time an unprecedented number of stays of his execution from the Colorado Supreme Court-all by 4-3 votes. Notably, every time Mr. Arridy was informed that his execution had been stayed he showed no reaction and merely continued to play with his toys. Chief Justice Bakke made the following statement in an opinion denying one of Mr Arridy's appeals"
"[A]cknowledgement should be made of the commendable effort on the part of the defendant's counsel and others to save Arridy fro mthe death sentence. We are aware that such effort was prompted by the highest motives which move the hearts and minds of men, but until such time as the race, in its evolutionary process, can work out a more intelligent solution of cases such as is here presented, it remains the duty of the courts only, to safeguard the rights of the defendant and see that has a fair and impartial trial under the law of the state as it now is, not under what we wish it might or should or may be at some time in the future." Arridy v. People, 82 P 2d 757, 761 Colo (1938).
Fortunately, the law has evolved in just the manner contemplated by Justice Bakke. Under current law it would be unconstitutional to execute a person such as Mr. Arridy. In 2002, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Atkins v. Virginia that "executions of mentally retarded criminals are 'cruel and unusual punishments' prohibited by the Eight Amendment" 536 U.S. 304, 311-12 (2002). The Court stated in an earlier case ethat the "basic concept underlying the Eight Amendment is nothing less that the dignity of man . . . The Amendment must draw its meaning for the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society." Trop v. Dallas, 356 U.S. 86, 100-01 (1958).
Pardoning Mr. Arridy cannot undo this tragic event in Colorado history, It is in the interest of justice and simple deceny, however, to restore his good name. Granting this pardon demonstrates that Colorado has, in fact, matured in its understanding of mental disability.
II. Grant of Clemency
Joe Arridy be and hereby is granted a full and unconditional pardon of the above described conviction.
GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado this seventh day of January, 2011.
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
**********************
Inscription
PARDONED ON JAN 7, 2011
HERE LIES AN INNOCENT MAN
IN LOVING MEMORY
Gravesite Details
The tombstone for Joe Arridy was placed in 2009 by Arc of the Pikes Peak Region, an advocate organization for the developmentally disabled. Arridy had been buried in a mass grave.
