Halfway Home

Summary

Bone Valley: Episode "Halfway Home" Summary

Bone Valley, hosted by Gilbert King and produced by Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1, delves deep into the riveting story of Leo Schofield, who spent 36 years wrongfully incarcerated for the murder of his wife, Michelle Schofield. This episode, titled "Halfway Home," chronicles Leo's arduous journey toward freedom, the complexities surrounding his release, and the profound emotional ramifications that ensue.

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1. Introduction: A Long-Awaited Freedom

The episode opens by setting the stage for Leo Schofield's imminent release from Everglades Correctional Institution. After decades of imprisonment, Leo was finally granted parole, marking the culmination of a protracted battle for exoneration.

Notable Quote:

Leo Schofield [04:12]: "But after that phone call from the prison, we did know that all of Chrissy's plans for Leo's release were done for."

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2. The Road to Parole: Unexpected Twists

Leo's release was meticulously planned by his wife Chrissy, his family, and supporters. They envisioned a day filled with love and celebration, including a luncheon, family visits, and a smooth transition to a halfway house in Tampa. However, last-minute changes imposed by the prison authorities threw their plans into disarray.

Key Points:

• Original release plan included public walkout with media presence.
• Prison authorities altered the walkout time and limited the number of people accompanying Leo.
• The new instructions mandated a direct transfer to Noah's house, bypassing previously arranged venues.

Notable Quote:

Chrissy [06:01]: "They have moved the walkout time to 6am Number one. Number two, only three people are going."

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3. The Release Event: Confusion and Anxiety

On the day of Leo's release, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation and uncertainty. Leo found himself in an unfamiliar routine as he awaited the moment of his freedom, grappling with a whirlwind of emotions.

Key Points:

• Leo describes the sterile environment of the prison and his internal struggle leading up to release.
• The family, including Dave and Pam from Massachusetts, arrives to support Leo but faces unexpected logistical challenges.
• The release was conducted discreetly to avoid media attention and ensure security.

Notable Quote:

Leo Schofield [09:42]: "We don't even know. The object was to have something here and then take him to Fort Myers so he can see Ashley, his grandchildren."

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4. The Journey to Freedom: Navigating Uncertainty

Accompanied by Chrissy, Dave, and Pam, Leo embarks on his first moments of freedom. The journey is fraught with unpredictability as the small group encounters roadblocks and strict enforcement by prison guards.

Key Points:

• The convoy's passage is closely monitored, with repeated checks by officers.
• Navigating through the prison property involves strict adherence to protocols, leading to moments of tension.
• The use of Dave's black Tesla becomes a symbol of both hope and security during the transit.

Notable Quote:

Pam [17:44]: "We're parked on the side of the road across from the prison entrance. I don't know if this is the fucking spot."

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5. Settling In: Adjusting to a New Life

Once at Noah's Community Outreach halfway house in Tampa, Leo begins the challenging process of reintegration. The environment starkly contrasts the structured confines of prison, leaving Leo to navigate newfound freedoms and responsibilities.

Key Points:

• Leo expresses feelings of being out of his element and the anxiety of adapting to life outside prison walls.
• The halfway house provides a safe space for Leo to acclimate, yet the lingering effects of long-term incarceration remain palpable.
• Interaction with fellow program graduates highlights the shared experiences of those transitioning from incarceration to society.

Notable Quote:

Leo Schofield [38:11]: "I don't feel 100% secure. I'm outside my element right now. And so, you know, that's when all you guys go, you know what I mean? And I gotta be by myself. I think I'm gonna have a hard time tonight."

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6. Reflections and Reconciliation: Embracing Freedom

The episode delves into the emotional and psychological facets of Leo's release. Through heartfelt interactions and introspective moments, Leo begins to process the significance of his newfound liberty.

Key Points:

• Leo reflects on the decades lost and the challenges of reconciling his past with his present.
• Family support plays a crucial role in Leo's emotional healing and sense of belonging.
• The act of playing music serves as a therapeutic outlet for Leo, helping him express emotions that words cannot capture.

Notable Quote:

Leo Schofield [46:51]: "Thank you. I love you guys. Thank you."

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7. Conclusion: A Journey's End and a New Beginning

"Halfway Home" encapsulates the profound transformation Leo undergoes as he transitions from a life of confinement to one of hope and possibility. The episode underscores themes of resilience, the pursuit of justice, and the enduring power of familial bonds.

Key Insights:

• The legal system's imperfections can lead to prolonged injustices, yet unwavering support can pave the way for redemption.
• Personal freedom, while liberating, introduces a new set of challenges that require adaptability and strength.
• The human spirit's capacity to heal and rebuild is both inspiring and essential for societal reintegration.

Notable Quote:

Dave [45:28]: "To be able to kiss your wife and not be watched by a guard. To be able to visit with family and not have them subjected to a pat down."

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Final Thoughts

Bone Valley: Halfway Home is a poignant exploration of one man's fight for justice and the emotional landscapes navigated upon reclaiming his life. Gilbert King's adept storytelling, combined with the raw testimonies of Leo and his loved ones, offers listeners a deeply engaging narrative of struggle, hope, and the relentless quest for truth.

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Notable Quotes Recap:

• Leo Schofield [04:12]: "But after that phone call from the prison, we did know that all of Chrissy's plans for Leo's release were done for."
• Chrissy [06:01]: "They have moved the walkout time to 6am Number one. Number two, only three people are going."
• Leo Schofield [09:42]: "We don't even know. The object was to have something here and then take him to Fort Myers so he can see Ashley, his grandchildren."
• Pam [17:44]: "We're parked on the side of the road across from the prison entrance. I don't know if this is the fucking spot."
• Leo Schofield [38:11]: "I don't feel 100% secure. I'm outside my element right now. And so, you know, that's when all you guys go, you know what I mean? And I gotta be by myself. I think I'm gonna have a hard time tonight."
• Leo Schofield [46:51]: "Thank you. I love you guys. Thank you."
• Dave [45:28]: "To be able to kiss your wife and not be watched by a guard. To be able to visit with family and not have them subjected to a pat down."

Transcript

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[Leo Schofield]

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[Chrissy]

It's the two door coupe that was.

[Leo Schofield]

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[Dave]

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[Pam]

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[Dave]

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[Pam]

Connect with [e-mail].

[Leo Schofield]

Yesterday I went out in the afternoon, going out for my last, you know, time on the rec field. It's so contained and it's so secure. It has to be right? I mean, it's a high level security institution. You can't look far without having to look through a fence, a steel bar, a reinforced glass door, tall 12 foot fences covered in razor wire. There's something there that's going to remind you that you're not free. You know, you are confined. My mind was whirling, you know, thinking about all the what ifs, the possibilities. What am I going to do? What's this going to be like? Is it really going to happen? Because I'm going to tell you something. Right up to the last minute, I was holding my breath Waiting for a hammer to drop do you hear my madness? Laughter hides my fears Sorrow depths are.

[Chrissy]

Endless in this valley of tears.

[Leo Schofield]

I want to see a revelation I want to know who you are I'm reaching out in desperation to the one who's holding the star to the one who's holding the stars One who's holding the star.

[Chrissy]

I know it just upsets everybody.

[Leo Schofield]

But I saw this coming. To be honest with you, I saw this coming.

[Chrissy]

Kelsey and I are sitting in a hotel room In Miami, along with Scott Cup. Just two weeks earlier, Leo had been officially granted parole. Since then, I'd been in near constant contact with Chrissy and Scott as they coordinated plans for Leo's first day out of prison. Here's what we were expecting. Leo was scheduled to walk out of the gates at Everglades correctional institution at 9:00am where a crowd of family, friends and supporters would be gathered to cheer him on and witness his first steps of freedom after spending 36 years behind bars. Leo's lawyers from years past were also planning to attend, and so was Jonathan Martin. He's the Florida senator who spoke at Leo's parole hearing last year and who has been in discussions with Scott Cupp about Leo's prospects for exoneration. Chrissy had planned a whole day for him. First, there would be a luncheon at the hotel where Leo would say some words and play some music. Then he'd get into a car and drive with Chrissy to see his daughter Ashley, who had just given birth to his third grandson. Then he'd head to the halfway house in Tampa where he'd unpack and settle in and begin the adjustment to life outside of prison. Kelsey and I flew into Miami and headed over to the Miccosukee Hotel the night before the release. This hotel is right on the outskirts of Miami and less than a mile from where Leo would spend his final night in prison. We were feeling pretty excited as we headed to the Miccosukee Hotel. But just as we were walking up to the front desk to check in, I got a call from Chrissy.

[Dave]

I feel like I didn't really get the full story of what she told you on that call.

[Chrissy]

Actually, she basically said, this is what I've heard. I don't know anything else. I'm on my way over, but they have moved the walkout time to 6am Number one. Number two, only three people are going. Chrissy, Dave and Pam. Picking up Leo, no media. The other thing they said is, as far as we know, no, Miccosukee. Can't stop there. Gotta go straight to Noah's house. So, yeah, we don't know who issued the orders. Was it the prison overwhelmed with the logistics of a high profile release, or did this come from higher up in the Florida Department of Corrections? There was no way to know. But after that phone call from the prison, we did know that all of Chrissy's plans for Leo's release were done for. If they say get in the car and go straight to Noah's, he better get in the car. And go straight to Noah's.

[Leo Schofield]

Because at this point, as upset as.

[Chrissy]

Everybody is, if that's what they're telling.

[Leo Schofield]

Him to do, he better, he better do it.

[Chrissy]

Sitting in the hotel room with Scott Kuppen, we tried to figure out what to do next. We exchanged a few texts with Seth Miller, Leo's lawyer from the Innocence Project of Florida. Since he's been through this process many times.

[Dave]

Yeah, I'm curious, has he ever experienced this before? He just told me he's done like 30 walkouts.

[Leo Schofield]

Like, what the fuck is going on?

[Chrissy]

This one's different.

[Leo Schofield]

I'm not.

[Chrissy]

You know, Jonathan Martin was supposed to be here when Leo got out, and now at 6am it's kind of hard for him to leave at 3:30 to get from Fort Myers or wherever the.

[Leo Schofield]

Hell he's coming from.

[Chrissy]

So there's a lot of stuff that's happening. The prison has set these last minute conditions for Leo's release, and it's final. It seems like just one more reminder that walking through that gate might look like freedom, but parole is still basically prison without bars. We have records. Let's see who this is.

[Dave]

Dave and Pam. Leo's family from Massachusetts find their way to Gilbert's hotel room where everyone seems to be congregating. It's nice to see them at least. This is a long and complicated story, but since you haven't really heard their voices before, here's some quick backstory to get you caught up. The woman Leo called Mom growing up is really his stepmother. Sheryl married Leo's dad when Leo was a toddler and she raised him. It was never hidden from Leo that his biological mother was out there, but he had never met her until 2018. That's when Leo, with Chrissy's help, finally reconnected with his birth mother, Sandy. I can imagine that it's already nerve wracking to reach out to a biological parent who you've been separated from since you were three. But reaching out to a biological parent and saying, you're convicted of killing your wife and you're innocent, I could see how that might not go over well. But actually, she quickly embraced Leo. And along with Sandy came Dave and Pam. Sandy referred to her husband Dave as the love of her life, and Pam is the half sister Leo never knew existed. Sandy, Dave and Pam traveled down from Massachusetts to visit Leo frequently. They had a couple years of family reunions in the Hardy Correctional Visitation park, and then Sandy passed away in April of 2020. Since then, Dave and Pam have truly become Leo's family. So much so that Dave has legally adopted Leo, his deceased wife's adult son. And Pam and Leo are lovingly referred to as the twins because although they've spent a lifetime apart, they have so much in common. And their shared sense of humor means they are almost always laughing in each other's presence. So that's Dave and Pam and Chrissy.

[Leo Schofield]

Was saying that only the three of us can pick him up at clock tomorrow morning and take him away. Take him away where? What the hell, right?

[Pam]

Right.

[Leo Schofield]

We don't even know. The object was to have something here and then take him to Fort Myers so he can see Ashley, his grandchildren. They said to him, you can have a target on your back because of the notoriety and everything out there. They're going to be watching you. Be careful. Absolutely everything by the book. Steady on. Whatever you need us to do, we'll do. So stay focused. Follow the rules they give you. That's our focus.

[Dave]

I'm glad you two were at least included with the game walking.

[Leo Schofield]

But how sad is it that I'm the one that can go? It makes me feel bad just because that's me and I really want to see him walk out that door. Like that's totally what I want to do.

[Dave]

We wanted to see him walk out too. It's a moment we've been imagining for five years. But there's no time to think about that now. Plans are still shifting and it's getting late. There is one thing that hasn't changed. The vehicle that Leo will ride in to leave prison property. Dave's black Tesla.

[Leo Schofield]

Because I wanted him to ride in my car, I didn't want him to ride in some rental car from whomever I wanted him to ride in my car. My daughter's ridden in my car. My grandkids have ridden in my car. My son in law's ridden my car. And I want him in my car. Love it.

[Dave]

That's why we don't even know what Leo knows at this point about the change in plans. The prison had already taken away his tablet so we can't get in touch with him. All we could do was hope that he'd be able to make a phone call. We meet up with Chrissy in her hotel room and watch the sunset from her balcony. Leo would take his first steps outside the barbed wire gate before the sun would rise again. We set our alarms for 4am and try to get some sleep.

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[Leo Schofield]

At Ameca Insurance we know it's more than just a house. It's your home. The place that's filled with memor the early days of figuring it out to the later years of still figuring it out for the place you've put down roots. Trust Amica Home Insurance Amica empathy is our best policy.

[Dave]

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[Leo Schofield]

Quarter to three Quarter three I was awake. I didn't sleep two hours. Doesn't make sense to get up now, you know what I mean? Because I'm locked in this 8 by 10 cell. My roommate's sleeping and so now I'm gonna just lay here for a minute and I lay there and let my mind just burn out thinking about everything I was gonna do. And then like quarter after three I said, man, get out of bed, man, just get out of bed. And I slowly, you know, got ready and I was already dressed in my blues, brushed my teeth. 4:00 my door rolled open. I knew I was open. Massage came and I came out carrying my little blue bag and all that had in it was my Bible and the Quran and some journals and they brought me to the front and they put me in a holding cell by myself at 4 o'clock in the morning. And I knew I was gonna be sitting there a while because I'm not leaving till 6. My wife was given permission to bring my clothes no earlier than 5:45. So now I'm going to be sitting there and just sitting there from 4 to 5:45. I had my Bible with me, so that was good. I sat in this little cell locked in a cage and just prayed and waited.

[Dave]

All right I'm about to head downstairs. It's 5:15 in the morning and today is the day Leo's gonna walk out of prison. We're not gonna be able to see it, but it's still gonna happen. And that's the good thing.

[Chrissy]

We head outside. It's been raining since we got up.

[Dave]

Poor Leo gonna be released in the dark.

[Chrissy]

And in the rain we see Chrissy with Dave and Pam packing up the car with all the food that was supposed to be spread out in a buffet for guests. She's also packed a bag with clothes for Leo to change into since he'll have to leave his prison blues behind.

[Pam]

So we're on our way. We're gonna go get him. Yeah, yeah, I know.

[Chrissy]

It's gonna be amazing.

[Pam]

I can't wait.

[Chrissy]

Once Chrissy, Dave and Pam load up and take off, we jump in the car and are right behind them. That's them over there.

[Dave]

Right there.

[Leo Schofield]

Yeah.

[Dave]

Oh my gosh. Don't get like pulled over.

[Leo Schofield]

No, I'm not.

[Chrissy]

The drive lasts all of two minutes. We watch Dave, Pam and Chrissy drive onto prison grounds in the Tesla and I pull over and flip the hazards on.

[Pam]

So we turn into the prison property and get around a curve and there's like three or four cars with their lights on and a barricade. So they all come running to the these officers and they're on walkie talkies and they come to the door and they say, we roll down the window and they take our driver's license and check our names and then they ask for his clothes. And I had him in a bag next to me, so we open the window and give them the clothes. And I hear on the walkie talkie, majors taking the clothes, taking the clothes. And then comes back to us and says, follow the major.

[Chrissy]

We're parked on the side of the road across from the prison entrance. The shoulder isn't wide enough to keep us out of the lane while cars fly past us. I don't know if this is the fucking spot.

[Dave]

You still have like three feet over here. God, it's really just fully dark out right now. Like how much are we into the lane?

[Chrissy]

A little bit. So fucking depressing like this.

[Dave]

I can't believe they're making us do it this way. What do the headlights of a Tesla look like?

[Chrissy]

I don't know. The night before, we'd all decided that even if we couldn't witness those first steps of freedom, we still wanted to be as close as we could to the moment. More cars filled with friends and family members line up behind us. We're all peering through the dark, waiting for the outline of the black Tesla to appear.

[Leo Schofield]

And time went by like that. And before I knew it, and they brought the clothes to me, I changed out of everything.

[Pam]

And then we go to another checkpoint, and there's another guard gate. And officers come and they check our driver's license, they check the trunk, and then they say, go to the front pavilion where we normally go for a visit.

[Leo Schofield]

And I was able to go out the gate. No inmates for any reason walked to that gate, because that's the front gate. And so went through there. And then they took me directly out.

[Pam]

So the car stops and I jump out and I run up to this pavilion area. It's like a covered area. And there's two wardens in suits. And they're standing there. And I was kind of. We're just kind of chit chatting casual conversation, you know, like, just trying to be polite. And it's still raining. And the intensity is just building for me. Building, building, building.

[Leo Schofield]

I'm like, okay, so they're gonna let me go. Open front gate. And I went through was incredible.

[Pam]

And next thing I know, in the rain and the dark, the wardens turned around and there he was. And I saw him in his clothes and his little blue bag, and he just walked really fast to me. And we just, like, the intensity of that hug was magical. Like, we did it, we did it, we did it.

[Leo Schofield]

So Chrissy was, like, hugging and crying and wanting to hug. It was a great hug and all. I'm like, okay, let's go. Can we hug somewhere else, please? You know what I mean? These people got guns. And I want to go. I want them to say, oh, you know what, Scholfield? I changed my mind. You know, I'm in jeans now. We're not going back to those. As tighter as these are than those I was wearing, I'm not putting those back back on. Never again. And then the door closes, and it was just quiet. Just quiet. Prisons are utterly noisy places. They echo people yelling, screaming, laughing, whatever. And it's constant noise. You know, it's all day every day. And I got in that car, and it's very, very quiet. And then it started moving, and it was still quiet. I'm like, the car don't make any noise. I mean, it doesn't sound like anything. And it needs to have, like, some kind of something I was waiting for. And we just started moving. I'm like, what the hell? Yeah.

[Dave]

Here comes headlights.

[Leo Schofield]

This.

[Dave]

It's.

[Chrissy]

It's a van with blinkers on.

[Dave]

No, that's.

[Chrissy]

That does look like a Tesla, though.

[Dave]

Oh, I think that's them. Is that them?

[Chrissy]

Yeah. A car comes out and takes a left. We're not sure it's them. It's so dark out. I try to follow them.

[Dave]

Keep going.

[Chrissy]

No, no, no, stop. I gotta do traffic first.

[Dave]

Decline. What? What are you doing? Go. Okay, I. I mean, I hope that was them. It looked like a Tesla, right.

[Leo Schofield]

Going.

[Chrissy]

By what you said.

[Dave]

Thanks.

[Chrissy]

I can't imagine what Leo's thinking if that is him up ahead. My heart is pounding, trying to catch up. Something about this moment feels more like an escape than a walkout. I just want to get as far away from this prison as fast as possible.

[Dave]

Three minutes. Let me. Let me text Chrissy. I don't know if she's gonna reply.

[Chrissy]

Yeah.

[Leo Schofield]

And so we're driving down the road a little bit, and I said, I think there's some people following us.

[Chrissy]

That looks like a Massachusetts plate, doesn't it? Let's see.

[Dave]

Get closer.

[Leo Schofield]

I'm pounding. Are they gonna follow us all the way to Tampa?

[Dave]

Okay. Chrissy said yes to them. Oh, my God. We're in a car behind Leo, and.

[Chrissy]

The rain's lighting up a little.

[Leo Schofield]

And when she told me it was you guys, I was like, okay, okay. That made me feel a lot better.

[Chrissy]

Leo must be freaked out in that car. It's like all it is is a big computer screen. There's no, you know, like, knobs or anything.

[Dave]

I mean, I'm freaked out by it, so I don't know. Spend 36 years in Paris with us.

[Chrissy]

I can't believe he's up there. We head west as the sun rises behind us. We drive out of the rain as our little caravan cuts across the Tamiami Trail, led by the black Tesla with Leo inside.

[Pam]

The rain stopped and the day brightened as we were driving and the sun came out and the rains just stopped and we started to breathe. So it was the most magical moment of my life.

[Chrissy]

About 20 miles down the road, the Tesla's left turn signal starts blinking in front of us. Chrissy says she needs to pull over for a bathroom stop. And we all stop, too, and everyone gets out. The back door of the Tesla swings open, and suddenly there's Leo standing in street clothes in a parking lot miles from prison. No handcuffs, no barbed wire, no guards in sight. It may not be the walk out from the main gate that everyone was imagining, but he's here. He's out.

[Dave]

Oh, my gosh.

[Leo Schofield]

Hi. Hey, bud. Hi. Here come the boys. Hey. Hey. Hi. Hey, buddy. Hey, buddy. Who's that? Come here, buddy. How are you, buddy? Made it.

[Dave]

Want to meet the new one?

[Leo Schofield]

Hey, bud. Yeah. What are you doing? Got your little Holly Davidson jacket on. Yeah. That's nice. Wow.

[Chrissy]

Leo's family and friends gather around him, hugging and taking photos. But it's a quick stop. Leo is anxious to get back on the road and get to Tampa.

[Leo Schofield]

How are you doing, buddy? Okay. All right. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I'm still. Still feeling this as hell. Yeah. Yeah. I'm not sure what I feel. Be honest. Just, you know, I think once you get there and get settled. Exactly. Things will be better. Yeah.

[Chrissy]

Back on the road, we continue to follow Leo to Noah's house, where he's required to check in by the end of the day.

[Leo Schofield]

I'm still kind of in shock that I'm in this car. Yeah. I mean, I'm thinking it's count time right now.

[Pam]

That's pretty, though, isn't it?

[Leo Schofield]

You have no idea. You know, it's. You know what's crazy? And I imagined this for. For a long time, many years. I thought about this is being able to look out at the horizon and be able to see far without having to look through fence or razor wire or, you know, anything like that. It's just amazing. There was a time when we were driving across a bridge through the water. There's somebody on the boat. Wow, that is crazy how far you can see. Just to be able to see that far, that far and not have to look through anything was absolutely extraordinary. It was amazing, and it made my heart race. Keep waiting to wake up from a dream how it not be real that would really suck.

[Dave]

The drive from the prison to the halfway house is a little over four hours. Inside our car, we spend time listening to podcasts, of course. But within the Tesla, Leo is learning how to work his first smartphone.

[Pam]

And then there should be a gallery for your pictures. So we had bought him a phone, and before he got the phone, before he got out of prison, he's like, I don't know why you people are on the phone all the time. And I'm just gonna have a phone attached to the wall like I always did. I'm like, no, no, no, you're gonna have a phone. And it has everything in it. We had pre programmed his phone numbers and some apps. There's your camera.

[Leo Schofield]

Okay.

[Pam]

So when I gave it to him, he was. It was definitely foreign to him, and so it was super fun just to show him.

[Leo Schofield]

What is Snapchat.

[Pam]

It's a dumbass social. You can. You can send little snaps a picture or a little text, and then it goes to the other person and then erased after 30 seconds or something. I told him, I said, you use that phone for everything. I said, when you want to go to the gym, you got to beep. When you go to buy stuff, you beep.

[Leo Schofield]

Do I have that on here? Can you put Google Earth on it?

[Pam]

Yeah, it's on there.

[Leo Schofield]

Is it? I love that.

[Dave]

It probably goes without saying, but a lot has changed in those 36 years Leo spent locked up.

[Leo Schofield]

Yeah.

[Pam]

I was looking at the pictures we took, and I'm like, we're old compared to. Well, compared to.

[Leo Schofield]

I can't see what. I look. I look old.

[Pam]

I look old.

[Leo Schofield]

And then the other thing. This is crazy. We don't have mirrors in the prison. We don't have mirrors. We have these little pieces of shiny plastic that you can buy out of the canteen if you want. They got it. They got a stainless steel thing that's bolted to the. To the concrete. But, I mean, it's as reflective as a hubcap. You know what I mean? Literally, you might see a shadow of yourself in it. You're not going to shave in it. And so they sell these little shiny plastic things that have, you know, some type of adhesive silver thing that. And it's better than the hubcap, but it still doesn't show a true reflection. And so when you see yourself in The Mirror After 36 years, it's shocking. It's literally shocking because the little plastic thing is. Softens, you know, lines and, you know, blemishes and all that. You don't really see it in that because it's not true reflection. And so you see, I look and I said, damn, I got old. Remember what I told you when we first met? It was a long, hard road. Well, I didn't even know it would be this long. You don't expect justice to be this slow. But we didn't even know half of what was actually going on.

[Pam]

Yeah. We had to do the time to find the truth. I guess.

[Leo Schofield]

One thing we can definitely say is it has been meaningful. You know, I'm kind of absorbing the fact that it's over for me, at least that part of it. And then the experience. We stopped at a Burger King. I need to use the bathroom.

[Dave]

Okay.

[Leo Schofield]

Good. Are we going in? Yeah. Okay. All right. This is very, very weird. Do I look like a prisoner? No, I don't. You sure? Should we get one of Those hats? No thank. There's nobody in here. So this is the menu and you choose what you would like and then you go up there. Let me just get a waffle with cheese. You can.

[Dave]

Thank you.

[Leo Schofield]

No, it's all right. Do I look obvious? No. You sure? Beautiful. Absolutely fine. Scared to death in here. He had a chicken sandwich and she had some other little thing of wrap and the girl said 30 something dollars in exchange. I'm like holy mother of God. Is it to come with a back massage or something? That's crazy. 30 something dollars. 30 something dollars? I said a Whopper. Whopper. One Whopper with cheese. That's it? Just cheese? What else is there? Gold. 30 something dollars. That's crazy. Unbelievable.

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[Leo Schofield]

Insurance we know it's more than just a car.

[Chrissy]

It's the two door coupe that was.

[Leo Schofield]

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[Dave]

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[Chrissy]

By early afternoon, we pull up behind the Tesla at Noah's Community Outreach, the halfway house where Leo will spend the next year. Leo and Pam walk into the office where he needs to check in.

[Leo Schofield]

I just walk in? Yes. I'm not used to this. Okay. Hey. Hey. Oh man. I am so scared. I don't even know what to do. Don't. Don't be scared. Don't be scared. I'm a sister. I'm Just don't you be scared. Uhhuh. We'll be here tomorrow, baby.

[Pam]

Yeah. Don't be scared.

[Leo Schofield]

You in the right place. Come on. Come on. It's okay.

[Target]

It's okay.

[Chrissy]

Come on.

[Leo Schofield]

That's okay. You a free man? Yes, ma'am. You a free man. That's all that matters right now. And we're here to help you. Okay?

[Chrissy]

Thank you.

[Leo Schofield]

I'm Mr. Parker's sister. Okay. Okay. My name's Leo Schofield. This is my sister Pamela. There you go. Well, you're going to the new house. Yes, ma'am. Look at God. God is good, isn't he? I'm. Look. Lord heard my prayer. I'm gonna walk you to the new house.

[Chrissy]

Leo's shown to the house, one that's newly built where a bed has been reserved for him.

[Leo Schofield]

I love the. Let me tell you, the new house off the chain. I love it. But we have eight ministry houses. Wow. And we just finished building that one. I mean, it's brand new. Okay.

[Chrissy]

But first he stopped by some familiar faces.

[Leo Schofield]

There's Greg right there. There's my buddy Greg. I know all these guys. There's Jimmy right here. What's happening? Hey, Jimmy. Thank you. God bless you, too. My sister Pamela. What's happening, bro? Man, it's been forever.

[Chrissy]

Most of the guys here are also recent graduates of the Everglades CI Corrections Transition Program. Leo spent a total of 10 months there, and in that time, 39 men were released on parole. Today, with Leo walking out, he's the 40th.

[Leo Schofield]

Better at them blues. That's right.

[Chrissy]

Leo moves his stuff into his new home, which is clean, freshly painted and sparse.

[Leo Schofield]

All this stuff, pop.

[Chrissy]

Now that Leo is here and checked in, he's finally able to breathe, and he begins to reflect on his new surroundings and new existence.

[Leo Schofield]

You know, I think I was. I was out of my element until we got here. You know, I needed to get here. What is strange to me, Leo spins.

[Chrissy]

Around in his seat to knock on the drywall behind him.

[Leo Schofield]

I could probably run through that with no problem. For real. I mean, I sense it. See, I've been in a concrete and steel block solid unit for 36 years, and you're not getting through that. You know what I mean? And you feel it. You can just. The sound of your voice inside something like that, the way it's so enclosed and encased, you know? And inside those cells, there's a sense of security, you know, you have a sense of safety in that as compared to this. Because if I can break through it, who can break in it, you know, and nobody's breaking in my C1 201 cell. You're not coming through that door. If the door's locked, you're not coming through unless it gets open. You know, you can run and crash into it all you want, you know, you're not coming in. And the walls are solid concrete. They're not even blocked, they're just slabs. The single unit, I mean, whole fabricated that way. And so there's a sense of, of am I secure, am I safe? You know, so I don't feel 100 secure. I'm outside my element right now. And so, you know, that's when all you guys go, you know what I mean? And I gotta be by myself. I think I'm gonna have a hard time tonight.

[Chrissy]

After seeing what will be his new home for the next year, we all head over to the Airbnb that David rented right down the block. It's still about a half hour too early to check in, so we all gather on the back porch. Leo pulls his new guitar out of the case to inspect thing up real quick. For weeks, Leo had been anticipating the opportunity to say a few words of gratitude and share some stories after his release.

[Dave]

Can maybe set up on the ledge.

[Leo Schofield]

Too, or sit on this. Let's see what it sounds like.

[Chrissy]

We're a smaller group than what would have been back at the hotel, but Leo still wanted to play something, even if it was just for a few people he was close to. Years ago, on one of our first visits to Hardy, Leo told us about the days and weeks after Michelle was killed. How he never really had the chance to properly grieve her death and the loss of the future they'd imagined together. Almost immediately, he was a suspect having to fight for his own life. And once he was locked up, he told us, showing grief, sadness, fear, anything other than anger really, could make him a target and put him in danger. And anyway, he was young and had already struggled to express his emotions in a healthy way even before all that. But playing music helped. I couldn't tell you what I was feeling, he told us, but I could sing it, I could play it through the guitar. And before his arrest in 1988, he'd written a song for Michelle. Sunset Mickey, he called it. The title references the nickname he'd had for Michelle a lifetime ago. The lyrics, he thinks now, are juvenile, but they reflect who he was at the time. A young man, immature, with his world turned upside down.

[Leo Schofield]

Sunset Mickey, where are you now? I can hear you Laughing in my heart somehow I miss you in the morning And I love you at night? You were too young to die and it just ain't right? And now that you're gone? My life ain't been the same? I still hear you calling? Calling out my name? Alive and well? But where are you now? We'll always be there? Time after time? But we'll soon be together? With a love that'll last? Broken hearts mended and troubles put to the past? So think of me always? Wherever you may be? And look to the future? Cause it's me you will see? Sunset making the sun said make it the sun said make it Sunset making sunset said Nikki.

[Chrissy]

He told us that he'd sat at her graveside all those years ago, before he ever set foot in a jail or prison and played the song for her. Leo never forgot the words. He said he tried playing it a few times in prison, but it was too painful and he wasn't sure he could make it all the way through. We weren't sure we'd ever hear it.

[Dave]

Leo has said recently that he was feeling conflicted about parole. He was worried it meant he was giving in, settling for parole when he deserves exoneration. I've had my own moments of internal conflict. Conflict about this. Not about parole itself, but about celebrating before the fight is over. But this moment, seeing Leo openly grieving his wife 37 years later while comforted by a family who drove halfway across the country to be here for him during this enormous life transition, this moment made me feel the magnitude of what has changed. To be able to kiss your wife and not be watched by a guard. To be able to visit with family and not have them subjected to a pat down. To be able to call a friend and not be announced by the facility you're locked up in. To open a drawer first thing in the morning and make a choice about what you want to wear that day. To play with your grandchildren and not be confined to a single patch of grass. To be able to measure time on your own terms, not by the prison count. And to sit outside at the end of the evening watching the color of the sky change as the sun vanishes beneath the horizon, allowing yourself to finally grieve after 36 years. Finally.

[Leo Schofield]

Thank you. I love you guys. Thank you.

[Chrissy]

Thanks for sharing that with me.

[Leo Schofield]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Chrissy]

Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good podcast in association with Signal Company Number One. Our executive producers are Jason Flom, Jeff Kempler and Kevin Werdes. Kara Kornhaber is our senior producer. Brit Spangler is our sound designer, Roxandra Guidi is our editor and our researcher and producer is Kelsey Decker. Sunset Mickey was written and performed by Leo Schofield. Our theme song, the One who's Holding the Stars, was written by Kevin Herrick and Leo Schofield and performed in this episode by lebob in the Truth and Leo Schofield. Bone Valley Halfway Home was written by Kelsey Decker and produced by me, Gilbert King.

[Leo Schofield]

Do you hear my madness? Laughter hides my fears Sorrow's depths are endless in this valley of tears.

[Dave]

I.

[Leo Schofield]

Wanna see your revelation I wanna know who you are I'm reaching out in desperation to the one who's holding the stars to the one who's holding the stars to the one who's holding the stars do you know my groaning Will you touch my heart? Can you see my longing to be free from the dark? I wanna see your revelation and I wanna know who you are I'm reaching out in desperation to the one who's holding the stars to one who's holding the star to one who's holding the star to one who's holding the star to one who's holding the star Are.

[Dave]

You still quoting 30 year old movies?

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