On a winter morning in 2000, police tape surrounded two bloody crime scenes in one of Gary’s toughest neighborhoods.
The bullet-riddled, partially clothed bodies of two women were found in a baseball park.
In a white, frame house not far away, a man and two women, also shot, were dead on the living-room floor.
Cleveland “Christopher” Bynum told police his night started with drinking beer and playing pool at a VFW hall and ended with killing three of the five victims. He later recanted, saying Gary detectives coerced his confession. But he was convicted of all five murders and got a 300-year prison term — 60 years for each victim.
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For 23 years, his lawyers have pursued his claim of innocence but lost appeals. Now, they say they’ve amassed a “mountain of evidence” he wasn’t the killer and hope to persuade the courts of that.
“If he went to trial today, he’d be acquitted so fast,” says Nicky Ali Jackson, executive director of Purdue University Northwest’s Center for Justice and Post-Exoneration Assistance in Hammond.
Nicky Ali Jackson (right) executive director of the Center for Justice and Post-Exoneration Assistance in Hammond, with project manager Willie “Timmy” Donald, exonerated in 2016 after 24 years in prison for a killing in Gary.
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Bernard Carter, the Lake County, Indiana, prosecutor, didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Bynum, 44, was convicted of killing Elizabeth Dailey Ayres, 37, of Portage, Indiana, and Sheila Renee Bartee, 37, Anthony Jeffers, 36, Angela Wallace, 24, and her sister Susan Wallace, 34, all of Gary.
The killings occurred on Feb. 17, 2000.
Jeffers and the Wallace sisters were shot in a home in Gary’s faded Aetna neighborhood. Angela Wallace’s 12-year-old son and her sister’s 18-month-old daughter were unharmed.
The same day, the bodies of Dailey Ayres and Bartee were found in a park.
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Bynum says Gary detectives coerced his confession by refusing to let him make a call, denying him a lawyer and threatening to arrest his fiancée and put his child in state custody. He says the police wouldn’t give him food or water or let him use the restroom.
No forensic evidence linked Bynum to the crimes — no gun or fingerprints or DNA evidence.
Cleveland “Christopher” Bynum at 18 with his family.
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The only direct evidence against Bynum was a statement by Larry Brooks, Angela Wallace’s 12-year-old son. Detectives said the boy told them he was awakened by five bangs and heard a man he knew as Chris tell someone “put another shell in” and “shoot her in the head.” He said he couldn’t remember Chris’ last name but said it started with a “B.”
But, in 2020, Larry Brooks, now in his 30s, met with one of Bynum’s attorneys and a Lake County prosecutor and in a deposition told them: “I don’t remember saying half this s—.”
Brooks also said a Gary cop told him — before he met with detectives the morning of the killings — Chris Bynum had confessed.
Which wasn’t possible because Bynum wasn’t arrested until the next day.
Brooks’ deposition is among evidence Bynum’s lawyers cite as examples of a bungled investigation that got the wrong guy.
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Other evidence of Bynum’s innocence, they say, includes:
Another confession: Gerald Mathews, who also went by Chris, said in a video recording that he was the killer. “My understanding is that an innocent man is doing the time that I was supposed to,” Mathews said. He was fatally shot in 2014 but had arranged for his recording to be turned over to authorities after his death. Indiana courts have found Mathews’ confession wasn’t credible because releasing it only after his death ensured he didn’t face any consequences.
Part of a written notarized statement Gerald Mathews supposedly gave admitting to the killings of five people in Gary in 2000. Mathews was fatally shot in 2014.
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Lake County, Indiana, court records
Two DNA hits: Tests in 2017 excluded Bynum from DNA recovered from the victims but showed a link to a late Gary police officer’s son. The tests also showed a link between one of the victims and an unidentified person whose DNA profile was recovered from the door of a 2010 murder scene in nearby Lake Station, Indiana.
Questions over trial defense: In 2009, the federal appeals court in Chicago ruled that Bynum’s trial lawyer provided ineffective assistance because he failed to put Bynum on the witness stand to testify his confession was coerced. The court calledd the evidence against Bynum “skimpy.” But it upheld his conviction, saying it was unlikely Bynum’s confession would have been thrown out even if he’d tesified.
Questions about witnesses: They include a woman who said Rob Carr and another man showed up at her home covered in blood and that Carr burned his clothes in a barbecue and said he was with the other man, who killed all five people. Carr later died in a car accident.
Detective accused of misconduct: A murder charge was dropped in 2002 against a woman who stabbed her husband to death. She said in a lawsuit that Gary detectives — including one who interrogated Bynum — ignored evidence supporting her self-defense claim. The city of Gary settled the lawsuit.
At the heart of the case against Bynum were the statements he gave police.
In the first, Bynum told them, “I didn’t have nothing to do with it.” He admitted he was at the house when the three victims were shot but gave detectives the name of a man he said was responsible for the killings. Later, that man and another man killed the women in the park, Bynum said.
Bynum’s lawyers say he was removed from his holding cell and confronted by one of those men — a “known killer in the community” and a “hit man.” The lawyers say Bynum changed his story to protect himself.
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The VFW hall in Gary’s Aetna neighborhood.
In his second statement, Bynum told detectives he played pool and drank beer at a VFW hall with one of the two men he named in the first interrogation. He said that, afterward, he was in a car with that man when they spotted Jeffers — one of the murder victims — outside his home.
Bynum said he got into an argument with Jeffers because he heard Jeffers was telling people he was a drug dealer.
Later, he said, Jeffers drove up to Bynum in a car with two women — Dailey Ayres and Bartee. Bynum handed Jeffers a gun, and they all drove to the ballfield, where Jeffers shot the women, according to the statement.
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Bynum said he and Jeffers went to Jeffers’ house and got into a “tussle” because Bynum said he wouldn’t take the blame for the killings.
Bynum said he thought Jeffers was trying to take his gun, which went off and killed Jeffers. Angela Wallace and her sister Susan started to approach him, he said, and he panicked, shooting them.
Jackson, a criminal justice professor at Purdue University Northwest, says there’s good reason Bynum’s contradictory stories are hard to follow: He made them up.
“This case was as sloppy as it gets,” Jackson says.
The police didn’t check phone records, look for surveillance videos or test DNA evidence recovered from the women in the park, she says.
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Michael Ausbrook, a lawyer who runs an Indiana University center specializing in post-conviction appeals, says “there are things we are still pursuing before we take that last shot” — asking the appeals court in Chicago for a full review of the evidence, hoping to win a new trial.
“Just with the DNA evidence and the Mathews confession, I don’t think there’s any chance he would be convicted,” Ausbrook says.
Three former members of the Indiana men’s basketball team have accused former team doctor Bradford Bomba Sr., 88, of sexually abusing them during their playing days.
Haris Mujezinovic and Charlie Miller originally filed a lawsuit against Bomba in October, and John Flowers joined the suit this week.
Flowers, who played for the Hoosiers in 1981 and 1982, said he was subject to at least two unnecessary prostate exams.
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A University of Indiana Hoosiers flag at Memorial Stadium.(Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/USA Today Sports)
Longtime trainer Tim Garl is now listed as a defendant, as Flowers said Garl was aware of Bomba’s “invasive, harassing, and demeaning digital rectal examinations.”
“After his first physical, Flowers’s teammates told him he had ‘passed’ Dr. Bomba, Sr.’s ‘test,’ and that he would not have to undergo a digital rectal examination again,” the lawsuit states, via CBS Sports. “Garl laughed at Flowers and his freshman teammates and made jokes at their expense regarding the digital rectal examinations they endured.”
The university officially declined comment but sent a statement from September that said the school was conducting its own independent review on the matter.
The players’ attorney, Kathleen Delaney, said Bomba may have sexually abused at least 100 male athletes during his time at the school. Neither Garl nor Bomba’s attorney responded to a request for comment.
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Bomba pleaded the fifth during a deposition last month.
Mujezinovic and Miller, who played under coach Bobby Knight in the 1990s, also alleged that Bomba conducted prostate exams that were not necessary.
The IU logo on a basketball during a Hoosiers game against the Michigan State Spartans Jan. 22, 2023, at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.(Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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“Dr. Bomba, Sr.’s routine sexual assaults were openly discussed by the Hoosier men’s basketball players in the locker room in the presence of IU employees, including assistant coaches, athletic trainers, and other Hoosier men’s basketball staff,” the lawsuit said, via NBC News.
“I’m standing up for all student-athletes who have suffered abuse,” Mujezinovic said in a statement. “I hope that more of our former teammates will speak out and share their stories publicly.”
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“I will never understand why IU leadership did nothing to protect us from what I now understand was sexual abuse,” Miller said.
Added Flowers, “I am proud to stand up on behalf of my former teammates and other IU basketball players to seek justice for the sexual abuse we endured as members of the Hoosiers.”
The Indiana Hoosiers logo during the Empire Classic game Nov. 19, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.(Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Bomba was employed by the university from 1962 to 1970, and again from 1979 until the late ’90s.
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January 21 marks the day when WNBA teams and unrestricted free agents can begin to negotiate new contracts. February 1 is when these players can actually sign new deals with new teams.
Therefore, these next few weeks are about to get hectic in the women’s basketball world. And with the Indiana Fever’s impressive success and popularity increase last season, there’s a ton of attention on the offseason moves they’ll make.
But which available players are the best fits for Indiana? Who can propel them to being WNBA title contenders? In our opinion, it’s the five players (listed in order) below.
Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) rushes up the court against Phoenix Mercury Celeste Taylor (12) on Friday, July 12, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 95-86. / Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
This one should come as no surprise. The Indiana Fever’s front office has made it clear that re-signing Mitchell (who has been with the team since 2018) is their top priority this offseason.
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And for good reason. Mitchell and Caitlin Clark were arguably the WNBA’s best backcourt duo for the second half of the season and they appear to complement each other perfectly. Since Mitchell is an unrestricted free agent, the Fever are almost guaranteed to give her a core designation (barring a separate agreement between the parties). Thus, Mitchell would have to make it abundantly clear that she wants out of Indiana if they were to trade her.
Frankly, we don’t see that happening. We expect Indiana to get Mitchell re-signed early, which will then allow them to pursue one of the next four players on our list.
Sep 24, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally (0) dribbles downcourt during the first half of game one of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Dallas Wings star Satou Sabally made it overtly clear last week that she has played her final game with the franchise that drafted her with the No. 2 pick of the 2020 WNBA Draft.
The Fever’s most pressing need is a wing player who has length, is a good defender, and can score in multiple ways. Sabally checks all of those boxes and then some. Out of any available players, there’s arguably no better fit for the Fever (aside from Mitchell) than Sabally. We expect them to pursue her aggressively this offseason and seem to have a good shot at securing her. It would almost certainly have to happen via trade however, as the Wings have cored Sabally.
Sep 25, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Sun guard DeWanna Bonner (24) defended by Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) during the second half during game two of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images / Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Everything we said about the Fever’s needs at the wing position in the Satou Sabally section also applies to DeWanna Bonner. Her impending free agency has gone relatively under the radar, but her skill set is a solid fit for the Fever on paper.
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The only clear downside is that she’s 37 years old, and likely only has a couple of seasons left. However, she might see Indiana as the perfect place to make one last run at a third WNBA championship. There’s also a connection with Fever coach Stephanie White, who likely could have insight into the desires of the Connecticut Sun’s numerous free agents.
May 3, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings forward Natasha Howard (6) reacts during the second half against the Indiana Fever at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Another underrated wing on the WNBA free agency radar is Dallas Wings standout Natasha Howard. One downside to Howard’s game is that she isn’t a great three-point shooter. But she is a lockdown defender and can score in enough ways to take the scoring load off of Clark and company when the need to do so arises. The Fever lacked on the defensive side of the ball a season ago and Howard could help alleviate that issue.
Jun 4, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) dribbles the ball while Indiana Fever guard Erica Wheeler (17) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Plum coming to Indiana might be a longshot, and there’s virtually a zero percent chance the Fever would pursue her if they re-signed Kelsey Mitchell. But if Mitchell ends up elsewhere, they could do much worse than bringing Plum on board.
Plum’s versatile scoring ability would surely be enhanced when she’s receiving passes from Caitlin Clark. Given that she’s one of the league’s biggest superstars, her profile would be heightened even more so playing alongside Clark.
If Plum does indeed want out of the Las Vegas Aces (which would be via sign-and-trade given her core designation), the Fever could very well come calling as a contingency plan.
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Some believe that an excellent offseason for the Fever could turn them into 2025 WNBA Championship contenders. But what does an “excellent” offseason look like? We’d argue that it means signing two of these players, with one of them ideally being Kelsey Mitchell and the other being one of the three wings mentioned.
What’s for sure is that the decisions Indiana’s front office makes in the next month or so will be crucial for their future success.
Indiana Pacers (22-19, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (21-19, eighth in the Eastern Conference)
Detroit; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
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BOTTOM LINE: Indiana visits Detroit looking to extend its four-game road winning streak.
The Pistons are 15-14 against Eastern Conference opponents. Detroit is sixth in the Eastern Conference with 33.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Jalen Duren averaging 6.2.
The Pacers are 4-4 against Central Division teams. Indiana is 11-11 in games decided by at least 10 points.
The Pistons are shooting 46.9% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points lower than the 47.3% the Pacers allow to opponents. The Pacers are shooting 48.9% from the field, 2.0% higher than the 46.9% the Pistons’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tobias Harris is averaging 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Pistons.
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Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 18.1 points and 8.8 assists for the Pacers.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 8-2, averaging 113.9 points, 44.4 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.5 points per game.
Pacers: 7-3, averaging 116.9 points, 44.1 rebounds, 29.6 assists, 8.3 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.7 points.
INJURIES: Pistons: Jaden Ivey: out (leg).
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton: day to day (hamstring), Aaron Nesmith: out (ankle), Isaiah Jackson: out for season (calf), James Wiseman: out for season (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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