An Ohio man convicted of murder married the sister of the man he was accused of killing.
Last weekend, the 57-year-old John Tiedjen man married Crystal Straus at his home in Cleveland. In 1987, Tiedjen was convicted of killing Straus’ brother Brian McGary.
However, according to WBAY, after serving 32 years in prison, Tiedjen’s defense attorney submitted dozens of criminal photos and police reports, which were not visible in his initial trial.
In late June, Cuyahoga County Judge Dick Ambrose dismissed Tiedjen’s original conviction and ordered a retrial scheduled for August 31. Prior to this, Tiedjen had been under house arrest, which is why his wedding was held in his home.
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When McGary was killed, Tiejin was McGary’s roommate. McGary has lived with Tiedjen’s family since he was 15 years old. The two later moved into a duplex apartment by themselves.
On April 1, 1989, the two returned home after smoking marijuana overnight. According to Cleveland.com, McGary was stabbed in the chest with a 0.22 caliber rifle in his bedroom and died after being shot between the eyes.
Tiedjen told the police that he did not remember what happened that night. He said he believed McGary committed suicide because of a recent breakup. However, Tiedjen said that the police lied about the “overwhelming” evidence against him, claiming that his DNA was in a murder weapon. Tiedjen also said that the police threatened to beat him and said that if he claimed to have killed McGary in self-defense, he would receive a lighter punishment.
The prosecutor eventually charged Tiedjen with murder. He lost the case and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Tiedjen’s lawyers recently discovered that during Tiedjen’s initial trial, state prosecutors had concealed more than five dozen crime scene photos and police reports from Tiedjen’s defense attorneys. The photos show that during the on-site investigation, the evidence has been transferred. The police report also supports Tiedjen’s view that McGary committed suicide.
During the two-day hearing, crime scene reconstruction expert Scott Rod pointed out that a piece of paper photographed in McGary’s pocket has never been used as evidence by the police. Rod said that this may be a suicide note. In addition, Tiejin said that there was no blood in the corridor where he shot McGary. Rod also showed the court a 3D model showing how McGary shot himself after causing a non-fatal stab wound.
Judge Ambrose wrote in his decision to dismiss Tiedjen’s initial conviction that if Tiedjen’s defense attorney can obtain evidence, “the outcome of the trial is likely to be different.”
After hearing the new evidence, Strauss wrote a letter to Tiedjen expressing her forgiveness and expressing her belief that he did not kill her brother. The new evidence made Strauss more convinced of Tiejin’s innocence.
The two are now married, and he is awaiting a new trial.
“We will solve this problem,” Strauss said. “It will be challenging. There is no doubt about it.”
Weekly newspaper Tiedjen’s lawyer Kimberly Kendall-Corral was contacted for comments.
