Wrong Man Season 1 Episode 1 Evaristo Salas: The Letter

In the first episode of Wrong Man season 1, we are introduced to Evaristo Salas, a man who has been serving a life sentence for a murder he claims he did not commit. As the title of the episode suggests, Salas receives a letter from a woman named Maria who claims to have information that could help clear his name.

Salas has been in prison for 27 years and has exhausted all legal avenues of appeal, so he sees this letter as a glimmer of hope. He contacts a legal team led by Ron Kuby, an experienced defense attorney known for taking on high-profile cases. Kuby and his team agree to investigate the case and try to find new evidence that could exonerate Salas.

The case against Salas is based largely on witness testimony. Two eyewitnesses identified him as the man who shot and killed a drug dealer in a New York City bodega in 1986. Salas, a former drug addict himself, admits to being in the store at the time of the shooting but maintains that he did not pull the trigger.

Kuby and his team re-interview the two eyewitnesses and find inconsistencies in their stories. One witness, who claimed to have seen Salas shoot the victim from close range, admits that she was high on crack cocaine at the time and may have confused Salas with someone else. The other witness, who was outside the store during the shooting, does not remember seeing Salas at all.

The team also discovers that the NYPD detective who investigated the case did not follow up on a potential alternative suspect who had motive and opportunity to commit the murder. This suspect, who had a known drug problem, was at the bodega around the time of the shooting and had a history of violence. The team interviews this suspect and finds that he has a clear motive to kill the victim and that he had access to a gun at the time.

While the team's investigation uncovers new evidence that could potentially exonerate Salas, they also face a number of obstacles. Salas has a difficult relationship with his wife, who has been supporting him financially but has grown tired of waiting for him to be released. Additionally, the New York County District Attorney's office is resistant to reopening the case and has denied the team's request for access to the original police files.

Throughout the episode, we see Salas grappling with the emotional toll of his situation, as well as the daily indignities of life in prison. We also see Kuby and his team navigating the legal system and trying to piece together a case that could stand up in court.

The first episode of Wrong Man season 1 sets up a compelling story of a man who has been wrongfully accused and imprisoned for nearly three decades. As the investigation unfolds, we see the complex and often frustrating process of trying to prove innocence in a system that is stacked against the accused. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers eager to see how the story will unfold in future episodes.