1998
January 23
- On Jan. 23 at 8:00 am, alleged victim Angela Truitt reports she was raped by three men between 4:00 – 7:00 am at 300 Progress Court in Gary Indiana. She is admitted to Methodist Hospital’s Northlake Campus in Gary, Indiana under the care of Dr. Neil Winston.
- While at the hospital, Dr. Winston and a nurse perform a sexual assault kit for an alleged rape, including a pregnancy test, blood draw, and vaginal and rectal swabs.
- Truitt is released to her mother and the hospital’s exit notes indicate Det. Mary Banks called within an hour of her release requesting patient (AT) see Det. Banks at 3:00 pm.
- According to the police report, Truitt said she left her boyfriend’s house after an argument around 3:30 am. She went for a walk and to use the phone when she was approached by three men who took her to 300 Progress Court and assaulted her.
- “Ms. Truitt states only one of the subjects that raped her ejaculated sperm inside her.” After the assault was over, she called the police who arrived to find one suspect was in “the (empty) apartment where the rape occurred… and was arrested by officers.
- Also on Jan. 23, Taquisha Nash was admitted to Methodist Hospital’s Northlake Campus reporting she had been raped by four men at 300 Progress Court in Gary, Indiana, at 4:00 am. This was the same location and time that Angela Truitt reported her assault took place.
- Ms. Nash was with her boyfriend, Cory Carter, who she says forced her to perform sexual acts on him as well as “Vernon,” “Damean,” and “Man.” According to the police report, two men ejaculated inside of her. After, Cory put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her before another “M/BLK” [Black male] said “No don’t kill her. Don’t kill her.” At that point, she left. She reported the incident at 11:31 am later that day.
- The whereabouts of this rape kit are unknown as is the outcome of the allegations and, if there was one, case against the four men. This includes Cory Carter. Public records indicate no one was ever charged in this incident.
February 17
- On Feb. 17, over three weeks after the alleged incident, Lake County Det. Mary Banks visits Truitt’s home with a photo array. There was no one else present and that is where Truitt “identified” Bateman.
- NOTE: The Prosecutor’s opening statement incorrectly says this took place at the Lake County Police Department. However, Det. Banks sworn testimony is clear she visited Truitt’s home on Duneland Terrace to show her the photo array. Further, Angela Truitt testified that Det. Banks visited her home to show her the photographic lineup.
September 14
- On Sept. 14, the trial starts. The state’s main witness, Angela Truitt fails to appear. The judge issues a “writ of body attachment” against Angela Truitt. A “writ of body attachment” is a process issued by the court directing the U.S. Marshal to bring a person who has been found in civil contempt before the court.”
September 15
- Truitt again fails to appear on September 15. Jury selection takes place and the trial begins.
September 21
- Finally, one week later, Truitt is located and forced to appear in the courtroom, a week after the trail started. Although Bateman’s counsel raised an objection that she be allowed to testify, it was promptly denied. However, Bateman’s attorney did not request a dismissal or challenge the state’s motion for continuances after she repeatedly refused to show up and disobeyed the subpoena power of the Court.
- Linda Koppen, a nurse at Methodist Northlake, testifies she and Dr. Neil Winston performed a sexual. Assault kit, including DNA testing, on Truitt.
- Det. Mary Banks testifies she “turned over” the assault kit.
- The sexual assault kit is not entered into evidence. The state presents no other evidence tying Bateman to Truitt or crime scene.
- At one point, the Prosecution puts forward Exhibits D and E. Bateman’s lawyer objects because both “exhibits D and E indicate victim Angela Truitt and Takesha Nash.” The judge responds, “I’m sorry. What?… Who’s Takeesha Nash?” The Prosecution responds that, “she is another person that was raped in that house earlier in the day.” The judge says, “Well, until that gets cleaned up. It’s highly prejudicial.”
- The state’s only eyewitness, co-defendant Sa’ron Foley, does not testify. Det. Mary Banks delivers his “testimony,” depriving Bateman the right of cross-examination.
October 19
- Vernon T. Bateman is convicted of rape, criminal deviate conduct, and criminal confinement. He is sentenced to two 30-year terms and one 10-year term (concurrent).
- Before sentencing, the Judge expressed confusion that only two of the three defendants had been charged. The dialogue goes like this:
Prosecution: “There are only two charged in this case.”
Judge: “Well there were three of them.”
Prosecution: “There were three, the victim couldn’t identify the third person.”
Judge: “Didn’t [Sa’ron] Foley give him up?”
Prosecution: “In a way yes, but that was the only way that we could, that we could get him through his testimony.”
2003
November 6
- Angela Truitt visits Bateman’s lawyer, Ray Szarmach, to give a recorded statement recanting her testimony at trial. Truitt confirms that:
- “The police told me that it was Vernon Bateman.”
- She then asks “Didn’t they do a DNA test?” After some dialogue, Truitt confirms the state took her DNA: “So they like too my [DNA] for nothing.”
- At the end, Szarmach says someone will contact her soon, to which Truitt replies “I don’t want it to be Gary [Police Department].”
- She concludes, “I just want them to let him go. I want them to let him out of jail.”
November 18
- Truitt writes a letter recanting her testimony to Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter. She admits:
- “Ms. Banks came to my house with a picture of Mr. Bateman and said he was the man who committed the rape.”
- Truitt apologizes numerous times.
- Truitt gives her “address in confidence… Thank you in advance for looking into this matter and I look forward to your future correspondence with regard to same.”
- Carter’s office does not pursue the matter any further.
2004
April 8
- With Carter’s office refusing to respond to her, Truitt delivers a sworn deposition recanting her trial testimony yet again and confirming her prior two recantations. She again says Det. Banks identified Bateman for her and she had never seen him before nor could she recognize him if he walked in the room.
2007
November 14
- In notarized letter, Truitt’s brother, Chris L. Veal, confirms Truitt was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in letter pleading for Bateman’s release.
- Veal writes that in June 2007, Truitt went missing for three days and “put on an act of being abducted.” When she returned, she claimed she was raped and beaten.
- Veal offers to testify.
2008
- Bateman appeals for post-conviction relief.
- Truitt, who is medicated at the time and in a psychiatric facility, reverses recantation. Now, Truitt claims she only did so because Mr. Bateman’s sister paid her a one-time sum of $100 for all three recantations over the year-long period.
- Bateman’s sister testifies that Truitt’s allegations are false.
- The court finds Truitt “believable,” stating the 2003-2004 recantations “did not rise to the level of newly discovered evidence to warrant a new trial.”
- Appeal is denied.
2009
- Foley gives sworn affidavit confirming “the reason that Vernon T. Bateman is in prison is because Det. Mary Banks and myself lied to a jury of our peers.”
2010
- Mr. Bateman publishes his first children’s book, Mommy I Want 2 Fly, while in solitary confinement to parent his daughter after her mother is killed by a drunk driver.
2015
November 30
- After reading a newspaper article about Mommy I Want 2 Fly, Saron Foley writes a notarized letter to Mr. Bateman’s daughter, apologizing for his role in his unjust incarceration. He asks for her forgiveness and writes:
- “I want you to know that I lied on your father with Det. Mary Banks. Your father never had anything to do nor was he at the house where this alleged offense took place.”
2017
- Bateman files motions for DNA Collection and a Subpoena Duce Tecum to force the state to produce the DNA results of the Sexual Assault/Rape Kit collected. State denies both motions based on lies.
- State moved to deny the first motion because “The State of Indiana has contact (sic) Attorney Adam Tavitas who was the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney assigned… Attorney Tavitas’ recollection of the trial testimony was that the perrpetrators used a condom. Due to that reason, no DNA testing was performed.”
- State denied second motion claiming, “neither the Gary Police Department nor the Indiana State Police can locate any evidence that a rape kit was taken in the investigation of this case.”
2018
January 18
- Foley writes the first of four affidavits and notarized letters on behalf of Mr. Bateman. In this letter, he admits:
- “This made up case is because Det. Mary Banks son, Dwayne Banks was killed and she is seeking justice for her son…. I have nothing to gain by writing this affidavit and telling the world the truth. Vernon T. Bateman is Innocent of the Rape of Angela Truitt.”
February 19
- Foley writes another sworn appealing to Judge Murray. He again affirms Bateman was never at the alleged crime scene. In it, he apologizes for being:
- “part of one of the biggest cover-ups in Lake County history–when an innocent man was convicted of an alleged crime, made up by me and Det. Mary Banks…. I have written SEVERAL AFFIDAVITS ON VERNON T. BATEMAN (sic) behalf, but was never called to testfy to this alleged crime. My letters and affidavits have gone on deaf ears for too long…. Furthermore, Vernon T. Bateman was never at 400 Progress Court, at no point in time. As I write this letter, it pains me because I have been living this lie for 20 years and it has effected so many lives.”
- “part of one of the biggest cover-ups in Lake County history–when an innocent man was convicted of an alleged crime, made up by me and Det. Mary Banks…. I have written SEVERAL AFFIDAVITS ON VERNON T. BATEMAN (sic) behalf, but was never called to testfy to this alleged crime. My letters and affidavits have gone on deaf ears for too long…. Furthermore, Vernon T. Bateman was never at 400 Progress Court, at no point in time. As I write this letter, it pains me because I have been living this lie for 20 years and it has effected so many lives.”
- Foley sends a copy to Bateman’s sister, Nora, writing:
- “I pray and hope that this will help start the process of getting him out of prison.”
August 16
- Foley sends a notarized letter to FOX59 reporter Angela Ganote, who had recently covered Vernon’s story. After thanking her for the opportunity, he affirms the truth stated in previous affidavits and letters. Additionally, he points out that:
- “I was never allowed to call to testify in open court to the statement that was made against Vernon Bateman. I understand that you can not cross examine a piece of paper – but you can cross-examine a human being – me. That statement that was made on Jan. 23, 1998 was a lie and was made by Det. Mary Banks & myself… The reason I am writing this letter is because I was at the location and this is all because of Angela Truitt and myself agreed to have sex for drugs.”
2019
- IDOC denies attorney and co-founder of the Innocence Project, Barry Scheck, from visiting Bateman in prison. Internal Affairs ridiculously claims that Scheck “does not register as an attorney.”
2021
- Bateman writes fifth children’s book, If Bullets Could Cry, about gun violence.
2022
- From prison, Bateman donates a total of seven copies of his five published books to the Indianapolis Public Library System.
- The Collection Management Director contacts his family to thank them for their “generous donation.”
2023
January 3
- IDOC adds a “Special Note” to Bateman’s log in the Offender Information System instructing all IDOC facilities dictating:
- “Do not allow Angela Ganote to visit MCF88.”
June 8
- Edward Garcia informs Ashley Hilfiker that Vernon T. Bateman is to be released to “Special Agent [Jason] Cottey.” Bateman is released to the custody of Cottey and ordered to:
- “Contact Agent Cottey” by cell phone, “leave a message that includes your name, DOC number, and your approved address by your Agent.” Bateman is told he can “not change your resident without prior approval from Agent Cottey.”
- At this time, “Special Agent Cottey” also works for the SOMM Proogram (Sexual Offender Management and Monitoring System). He has all the authority that comes with that position.
- Shortly thereafter, Special Agent Cottey proceeds to sexually harass Mr. Bateman. This causes irreperable harm harm, trauma, and stress to Mr. Bateman and his family.
- The Parole Stipulations that determine Bateman’s “re-entry” into society are unduly restrictive and, moreover, unconstitutional in that they violate the Indiana Supreme Court Precedent set forward in Bleeke v. Lemmon (2014) (relevant portions are highlighted)
- For Mr. Bateman to come into contact with his grandchild, he must undergo a humiliating procedure including a complete “sexual history polygraph.”
2024
- Congressman André Carson writes letter in support of Mr. Bateman’s exoneration.
- In the letter, he identifies how Bateman’s parole terms prevent his positive community work:
- “He remains under punitively strict probation restrictions that severely limit his ability to work and make positive contributions to our community.”
- “He remains under punitively strict probation restrictions that severely limit his ability to work and make positive contributions to our community.”
- Two documentaries about Bateman released documenting his innocence and how he used his time in prison to benefit society.
- Bateman delivers four lectures by invitation to DePauw University:
2025
January
- Bateman’s books delivered to Tokyo, Japan, where they are adopted into English-language curriculum at several elementary schools.
February 8
- Congressman Carson writes letter in support of Bateman for his solo show, “Brush Strokes of Freedom.”
February 11
- Coalition to Free Vernon T. Bateman holds press conference on ongoing abuse by IDOC.