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The night before the murder
In the evening, Sam and Marilyn Sheppard host a dinner for a neighborhood family. After dinner,they all sat down and watched the movie "Strange Holiday" on television, with Marilyn sitting in Sam's lap. After a while Marilyn went up to bed. -
The Actual Murder
Sometime between 3:00 and 4:45 a.m., Marilyn Sheppard is brutally murdered in her bed. At 5:40 a.m., Sam Sheppard calls the mayor of Bay Village, Ohio. He tells him that they killed Marilyn! By 6:02 a.m., the first police officers arrive on the scene and discover the body, a trail of blood, and evidence of an apparent robbery. Sam Sheppard, complaining of head and neck injuries from his struggle with a "bushy-haired" intruder is taken to a hospital, where he is interrogated in the afternoon. -
The Preliminary Hearing
Sheppard appears at a preliminary hearing. He is released on $50,000 bail. At the same time, a grand jury is meeting to consider the case. Other witnesses testify about the crime scene investigation. -
The Trial
The Sheppard trial opens in Cleveland before Judge Edward Blythin. The trial is covered by such celebrity journalists. Jury selection begins. -
The Second Trial
The Eighth District Ohio Court of Appeals affirms the denial of Sheppard's motion for a new trial. -
Ohio Parole
The Ohio Parole Board denies Sheppard's request for parole -
Habeas Corpus
F. Lee Bailey files a petition for habeas corpus in federal court. -
6th Court Appeals
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cleveland hears the state's appeal of Judge Weinman's decision throwing out Sheppard's conviction -
Sheppards conviction
Judge Weinman tosses out Sheppard's conviction on constitutional grounds, calling his trial "a mockery of justice." Sheppard is released from prison on a $10,000 bond. -
Supreme Court
Oral arguments are heard by the Supreme Court. Bailey argues the case for Sheppard, while the state is represented by Ohio Attorney General William Saxbe. -
True Second Trial
Sam Sheppard's second trial begins. The jury finds Sam Sheppard "Not Guilty" in his re-trial. -
Sam R Sheppard
The Ohio Supreme Court denies a request by the Cuyahoga County prosecutor to dismiss the wrongful imprisonment case. -
2000 Trial
After an eight-week trial in Sam Reese Sheppard's wrongful imprisonment, a jury in the civil suit finds in favor of Cuyahoga County's favor. -
8th District court again
The Sheppard Estate appeals to the Eighth District Court of Appeals, who finds that the civil suit should never have proceeded to trial because such a claim abated upon the death of Sam Sheppard.