Ep 1. 1

In the first episode of "The Innocent Man," viewers are introduced to the small town of Ada, Oklahoma and the brutal murders of two local women, Debbie Carter and Denice Haraway. Through interviews with friends and family members, as well as footage of the search for the missing girls, the show sets the scene for the tragic events that would ultimately lead to the wrongful convictions of two men, Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz.

The episode opens with an interview with Tommy Ward, one of the men who would eventually be convicted of Haraway's murder. Ward is seen speaking to the camera from behind bars, claiming that he and his friend Karl Fontenot were coerced into confessing to the crime by Ada police officers. This sets the tone for the rest of the episode, which presents a damning case against the Ada police department and the criminal justice system at large.

We are then introduced to Williamson, a former minor league baseball player who was known locally for his flamboyant personality and love of partying. Williamson is seen working at a local bar, drinking heavily and flirting with female customers. The show makes it clear that Williamson was far from a saint - he had a history of alcohol addiction, drug use, and sporadic violent outbursts. However, it also becomes clear that this does not make him a killer.

Debbie Carter's murder is presented as a mystery - her body was found in her apartment, beaten and sexually assaulted. The show interviews friends and colleagues who describe Carter as a kind and optimistic person, with no known enemies. Despite this, the police quickly zero in on Williamson as a suspect, citing his past criminal record and his proximity to the crime scene. Police officers are seen interviewing Williamson and administering a polygraph test - he passes with flying colors, but is still treated with suspicion.

Meanwhile, Denice Haraway's disappearance is presented as even more mysterious. Haraway, a young waitress at a local convenience store, was last seen leaving work on a February evening in 1984. Despite a massive search effort, her body was not found until months later. Fontenot and Ward, who were also employees at the convenience store, are eventually picked up by police and held for questioning. The show presents interviews with the pair's friends and family members, who describe them as simple-minded and easily influenced. Despite this, they are eventually coerced into confessing to the crime - a fact that becomes clear as the episode progresses.

As the episode draws to a close, Williamson is arrested for the murder of Carter and Fritz is also implicated. The show portrays both men as innocent victims of a flawed justice system - their trials were riddled with shoddy evidence, coerced testimony, and biased juries. The episode ends with the haunting sound of Tommy Ward's voice, as he describes the mental anguish of being trapped behind bars for a crime he did not commit.

Overall, the first episode of "The Innocent Man" sets the stage for a tense and emotionally charged true crime story. The show's focus on the human toll of wrongful conviction and its unflinching critique of law enforcement make for a compelling watch, even for those who are not fans of the genre. Viewers are left with a feeling of frustration and unease - will justice ever be served for Carter and Haraway? And what other injustices might be lurking in the shadows of America's justice system?