Estate of Kenneth Waters To Receive $3.4 Million In Settlement For His 18 Year Imprisonment
The Boston Globe is reporting:.jpg)
The town of Ayer and five of its insurers have agreed to pay $3.4 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by the estate of the late Kenneth Waters, who spent more than 18 years in prison for a murder he did not commit before his sister earned a law degree and helped free him through DNA evidence. The estate was represneted by Barry Sheck of Neufeld Sheck and Brustin.
Ayer police were accused of coercing false testimony to convict Waters and withholding evidence that could have cleared him. A sixth insurance company, Western World Insurance Group, has declined to settle, but negotiations are continuing. Kenneth Waters was freed from prison in March 2001, and the Middlesex district attorney’s office dropped the charges against him. But he enjoyed only six months of freedom. He died on Sept. 19, 2001, after he fell on his head from a 15-foot wall in Rhode Island while taking a shortcut to a restaurant.
Ayer’s town administrator, Shaun A. Suhoski, said the lawsuit was “a very complex case and, through the very diligent efforts of our legal team, with close oversight of the Board of Selectmen, it appears we’ve reached an acceptable endpoint in this litigation.’’
Kenneth Waters was convicted in 1983 of first-degree murder and armed robbery in the death of Katharina Brow. She was found on May 21, 1980, with more than 30 stab wounds, in her mobile home in Ayer. Waters; his girlfriend, Brenda Marsh; and two of her children, one of whom Waters had fathered, had been living in a house behind the mobile home.
According to the complaint filed by Betty Anne Waters, her brother had a solid alibi for his whereabouts when the killing occurred: He had been working a night shift at a local diner and then had a court appearance the next morning for an unrelated matter. Ayer police interviewed him after the killing, but filed no charges, and the case remained unsolved for 2 1/2 years.
In October 1982, a man who was living with Marsh approached Ayer police and said she told him that Waters had confessed to killing a woman in Ayer, according to the complaint. She also said she had washed Waters’s bloody clothes, he said. Ayer Police Chief Philip L. Connors and Officer Nancy Taylor-Harris interrogated Marsh. Although she initially denied that Waters had anything to do with the killing, Marsh ultimately relented and said he had come home drunk the morning that Brow was killed with a long, deep scratch on his face, according to the complaint. Police arrested Waters, even though officers had examined him after the killing and found no wounds.
The complaint alleged that Waters was indicted based in part on false testimony before a grand jury by Taylor-Harris that fingerprints found at the crime scene were smeared and useless to investigators. In fact, authorities found a bloody fingerprint on a broken toaster and a partial print on a kitchen faucet that was still running when Brow’s body was discovered. Taylor-Harris knew that Waters had been excluded as the source of the prints, the complaint alleged. Waters was convicted by a Middlesex Superior Court jury and sentenced to life in prison.
Who Killed Catherine Broe?
I think that this was a wonderful outcome. The power of love that gave Betty Anne the will to help free her brother. In fact I saw the movie too called Conviction 2010.
My condolences to the Waters family for the passing of Kenneth Waters. May he rest in peace and he and Betty Anne`s story will always be remembered.
-S.P
Do you think that Ayer police dept. etc. may have been involved in his death?
I watched the movie "Conviction" what a great movie about a horrific ordeal for a whole family. I dont think 3.4 million is nearly enough for what the family went through. Upsetting to hear that Kenneth only had 6 months free, but atleast he went as a free man both with himself, family and everyone that knew him.
That ignorant sociopath cop Nancy Taylor should be ashame of herself. I wonder how can she sleep every night, knowing she put an innocent man in jail and let the real culprit walk the streets. If she was a good cop she would have investigated the victims family members, but nooooooo she had a grudge against Kenny Waters and she wanted him to go down for a crime she KNEW he didn't commit.
It's a shame that cops like her are on the police force. Nancy Taylor should be in jail right now. she took Kenny's life. and left him with 6 months of freedom. I bet she had someone kill him. because she is a sociopath.
The worst part about all of this is that that poor man only was out for 6 months before he died.....the movie was awesome and I cried threw out the whole thing.....
OMG, just watched the movie and went thru several emotions with of course jubilation at the end.... so googled to find out the settlement and found out about his death. What a sad ending to the story
Just finished watching "Conviction". What a fantastic movie reguarding the wrongful imprisonment of an innocent man. 3.4 million can't substantiate the horrible existence he had to suffer through because of an arrogant police department and one woman police officer. I wonder how she sleeps at night? Mike
Bettyanne I think you are an amazing human being and to have so much love for your brother, all the years growing up all you ever had was each other, what an amazing bond. So sorry to hear about Kenny, I hope you can help others who have been wrongly convincted. Kenny and you will always be in my prayers. Christine
Just watched the movie, "Conviction". The Ayer police sound very dirty and I have to wonder if they had anything to do with his death. Very suspicious! Mr. K. Waters will be remembered through the life of his sister, as I am sure he is at peace.
The woman named Nancy Taylor, will only be remembered as a disgraced police officer, who is disgusting, and although she was able to escape man's law, she will have to answer to God's Law!!! Nancy Taylor your pathetic!!!
Kenneth Water's stands for all true victims!
The story will live forever.
Congratulations, Betty Anne - your story moved me. And all of us
This is truly a wonderful outcome to such a tragic story. The story of love and perserverance! 18 years is a very long time and you cannot get those years back no matter how much money they give you. The fact that his daughter was 2 when he was convicted and was 20 when he was released. So sad!
Seems too fishy he "falls" from a 15 foot wall. Were there witnesses that saw this?? It seems someone could have done this to him.
I have watched this movie twice...but it begs you to question how many others are there? Some may not be as fortunate ad Kinney to still have a strong willed sister and DNA still available. What about those cases where there is no DNA? This could happen to us.
I just recently watched the movie twice- I cried both times. I do not think 3.4 million was nearly enough. I have been to prison twice myself for drug convictions due to poor choices in relationships and unfortunately I will be serving 96 months in a F.C.I this June 2011. I plan to write a book while I serve my time. I didn't know that Kenneth Waters past so soon after being released. Congrats to Betty Ann for being strong for her brother and never giving up. I wish you the best Betty.
Heather Pllana
I just recently watched the movie twice- I cried both times. I do not think 3.4 million was nearly enough. I have been to prison twice myself for drug convictions due to poor choices in relationships and unfortunately I will be serving 96 months in a F.C.I this June 2011. I plan to write a book while I serve my time. I didn't know that Kenneth Waters past so soon after being released. Congrats to Betty Ann for being strong for her brother and never giving up. I wish you the best Betty.
Heather Pllana
I feel as though it is a a travesty of justice that Nancy Taylor was immune from conviction because of a time issue. Like Murder...there is no time limit and for her there should not have been a time limit on punishment.
I believe in Karma and truly believe she is a miserable woman and has to live with what she did. If not in this life, she will pay later.
I just watched the movie Convition. His sister lost everything, her marriage, her own life, and she greatly neglected her children. Horrible as it may be, was it really worth it?
I am sorry that this family had to go through this ordeal. I believe that the lady Nancy Taylor should be in prision now. She should have to face some years in prision ao she can see what kind of life she gave an innocent person. She must have felt like she was somebody by taking away the life of someone. What is the difference in someone killing someone and taking there life and lying to put someone in prision for life and taking away there life? Wonder who really killed Katherine? Will there ever be any true justice for the original victim?
What ever happened to that bitch Nancy Taylor? She should have been given the life sentence.It's funny how the legal system protects even the crooked cops.
Nancy Taylor...U will get a big punishment from the TOP...
18 yrs bitch...
Betty Ann God bless u...
just watched the movie and i cried, am watching it again!!
my heart almost stopped when i read he had died only 6 months after his relase. God bless his soul and family. Maked you appreciate what little you have because alot of people are going through alot.
As for the bad cops there are bad cops out there, my cousin was also falsey arressted for a crime she did not commit,( she was not even in the vicnity of the crime) it was a very hard time for us all as a family and the police eventually admitted to the false arrest and offense wiped from her records.
The sad thing about this story, is that they never found who killed Caterine Brow and that why someone would try so hard to get an innocent person in prison.
The sad thing about this story, is that they never found who killed Caterine Brow and that why someone would try so hard to get an innocent person in prison.
In response to Uma, the first one to comment, how about Nancy. Seems to me that Nancy was motivated to frame Kenny. She went to great lengths to ensure his conviction. Kenny already had a record and lived near Katherina Brow. For this woman to be stabbed excessively and killed so brutally, the killer must have been enraged. Nancy, if accurately portrayed in the movie, was not one to cross, or else... Kathrina may of intentionally or inadvertently offended Nancy, and there you go, she needed a scapegoat. If that is the case, Nancy could still go to jail for murder. It may not be worth the time, after all she will get what is coming.
What is worth the time is how Betty Ann chose to spend her time: loving the innocent and setting the beautiful example of faith, hope, and love for her sons and all of us, as well as proving her brother's innocence. He can rest in peace because of his sister. Well done Betty Ann!
Just watched conviction! I wonder how close the movie follows the real story? The real sad thing here is, how many are still in prison falsely, and how many have been freed of a crime because of planted evidence? Today's society wants instant resolve when things need action, when in fact taken time the out comes of both of the above mentioned could maybe be answered.
Betty thank you for showing the world that the power of love can over come any thing. Sorry for your great many losses during this tragic ordeal.
It is a shame that this man had to spend so many years of his life in prison for a crime that he did not commit. For him to only have a few months after before he died. His sister is a example of a love that never expires.
I was so happy for Kenny, it is so sad he died 6 months after his freedom. I felt proud of Betty for never giving up on her brother and going to law school. Betty, I hope you can help others that are innocent to be free. I'm sure there are many who need your help.
Maybe the guilty was a police, they tried to put Kenneth Waters in prison and to finish the case. Sadly the free life of Kenneth was too short. RIP.
Great movie, really sad that he didn't get to know his daughter.RIP Kenny
After watching the movie last night on HBO there is alot to be learned here. How deep love for family is, and how poor our laws are. We live in a country that is surpose to be the best, yet a person like that sleeze bag cop gets away with a crime that is worst than murder itself. I have the greatest respect for law enforcement, they risk. their lives every day in their line of duty. There should be away that this evil woman could be punhished for what she did, maybe the President of our great country should get involved.
As far as Betty Ann, you must be a very special person, I would be proud to know you. God Bless You and your family.
Sincerely, Dick
What a shame. I as well googled to learn more about the story and that really sucks that he died.
Some people are just born with really bad luck I guess. Makes me feel ashamed for all the complaining I do about my life.
I am watching the Movie “Conviction” and got curious about the case. Nancy Taylor’s name is like a rash on the web. I read where the Western World Insurance Group, had declined to settle, but that they were in negotiations to settle the lawsuit…are you friggin’ kidding me? Not only was Kenny screwed on the way in by the Ayer Police Department, but also the Insurance Company wanted to screw him on the way out. Travesty of justice…you can say that again. I live in Massachusetts and if I told you this is not an uncommon occurrence would you believe me?
My heart goes out to all those who were affected by the miscarriage of justice. Heidi6 wrote that she didn’t know if it was worth it for all that Betty lost. But did she really lose? I think not. The love of family is strong and the strength of determination is unwavering and the power of The Great Spirit (God, Higher Power) resides forever in us all.
Zoe Mooncloud - Stathopolous