Burden of Innocence
WVU Human Rights Film Series
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
from 6-8pm
Room G 21 in Ming Hsieh Hall
Film screening and panel discussion led by Professor Melissa Giggenbach, director of the WV Innocence Project, WVU College of Law. The event includes remarks by panelists Debra Milke, exonerated after 22 years on Arizona’s death row, and Tony Walton, who is currently fighting his wrongful conviction for armed robbery in Fayette County, West Virginia.
Meet Our Panelists
Debra Milke spent 22 years on Arizona’s death row for a crime she did not commit. In 1989, Debra was a single, 25 year old mother, with a four year old son. One day in December, her son went to the mall with her friend to go see Santa Claus, but he never came back. Hours later Debra was taken into an interrogation room and told the devastating news, her son was found murdered, and she was under arrest. Debra had to face two tragedies at the same time. The homicide detective who interrogated Debra, said she had confessed everything to him. He didn’t have tapes, witnesses, or a signed statement to prove it, the only evidence was his word against hers. What the prosecutors failed to disclose was that Saldate had a history of misconduct. These lies and cover ups would take away decades of Debra's life.
Tony Walton was wrongfully convicted of armed robbery in Mt. Hope, WV in 2012 at just 27 years of age. Errors in the initial investigation led to an eyewitness misidentifying Mr. Walton as the perpetrator. That mistake, combined with the use of flawed forensic techniques surrounding alternative light source technology and an inexperienced defense attorney, led the jury to convict Mr. Walton despite the lack of concrete evidence. WV Innocence Project has been fighting in court for his exoneration since 2022. He was granted parole in 2024 and was released from parole a year later. Mr. Walton continues to fight his wrongful conviction.
About the Film
Acclaimed producer Ofra Bikel’s film, Burden of Innocence, has won numerous awards. Bikel’s unparalleled work on
America's criminal justice system has helped exonerate 11 individuals. This film
depicts the lingering psychological effects exonerees face as a result of their
wrongful incarceration, as well as the social and economic challenges they must
address, often without assistance. A number of factors can combine to result
in these wrongful convictions, including witness misidentification, unreliable
informant testimony, false confessions, unreliable or improper forensic evidence,
and inadequate lawyering.
Burden of Innocence inspires us each to commit to greater justice for the accused
and/or convicted, as well as to respect and advocate for human rights.
The film series is made possible by the WVU Community Human Rights Film Fund, established by Morgantown residents Don Spencer and the late Carol Howe Hamblen. WVU's Native American Studies Program oversees the Film Fund.