The Case of Temujin Kensu

(formerly known as Frederick Freeman)

Temujin Kensu (known as Frederick Freeman prior to his conversion to Buddhism) was wrongfully convicted of the shotgun killing of Scott Macklem in a college parking lot in Port Huron, Michigan on November 5, 1986. He has now served more than 23 years behind bars for a crime the evidence shows he did not commit.

Temujin Kensu is actually – not technically – innocent of the crime. As confirmed by at least 10 credible alibi witnesses, at the time of the murder he was in the Upper Peninsula in Rock, Michigan, 20 miles north of Escanaba and about 450 miles from the crime scene in Port Huron. In addition, there was absolutely no evidence at the crime scene – documentary, forensic, or physical – that connected Teminjun to the crime. No murder weapon was produced. No gunshot residue was found on his clothing. An ammunition box found at the scene contained a fingerprint not belonging to him. Police conducted a several-hour, warrantless, and illegal search of his house, trailer, and property and found nothing incriminating. Moreover, Temujin and his primary alibi witness have both passed polygraphs administered by respected former Michigan State Police polygraphers.

Temujin Kensu was wrongly convicted of murder due to a shocking failure of our criminal justice system. He was the victim of a combination of factors, including unprofessional and faulty police work, admitted perjury by a jailhouse snitch, an overly aggressive prosecutor, erroneous identification by witnesses caused by suggestive police procedures, and a court-appointed defense attorney who was cocaine-addicted, incompetent, and had an undisclosed conflict of interest with the lead detective in the case. Temujin literally drowned in a “perfect storm” of failures of our criminal justice system.

For more information on this case:

Complete Kensu Video Series

Why He is Actually Innocent

What Others Say About the Kensu Case 

You may write Temujin at:

16 year old Davontae Sanford

Bill Proctor, Detroit Channel 7 Action News Investigator and founder of Proving Innocence, uncovers stunning new evidence that could rescue a teen from a life behind bars (wxyz.com).

Imagine having a young 14 year old son, developmentally disabled and in special education, who after hearing shots in the neighborhood, went to check things out. He comes across a grizzly scene with several people having been just murdered. A couple hours later, as police are canvassing the neighborhood, your son steps forward telling the police that he has information about the murders. He is feeling "in the know" and is excited about being able to help the police. The police ask if they can take your son down to the station for more questioning. You agree.

But he doesn't come home until the next day, and two hours later the police come back and arrest him for the murders. When the police asked to take your son down to the station for questioning, you didn't go with him nor did you get a lawyer to be present, because the police were just asking for information. They never said that your son was a suspect. And when it is all over, your now 15 year old boy is sentenced to 37 to 60 years in prison for murders you know he did not commit.

This is the story of Davontae Sanford. (February 28, 2009)