Thomas Rhodes, who spent nearly 25 years behind bars for the death of his wife, has filed a federal lawsuit against former Ramsey County Medical Examiner Michael McGee and other authorities, alleging the fabrication and withholding of evidence that led to his wrongful conviction.
Rhodes, 64, was released from prison a year ago after the state's Conviction Review Unit deemed the evidence unreliable, as per to Fox News.
Rhodes, convicted in 1998 of first- and second-degree murder in the drowning death of his wife Jane Rhodes during a boat ride on Green Lake in Spicer, Minn., has now turned to the legal system to seek justice. The lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Minnesota, not only targets McGee but also former Kandiyohi County Attorney Boyd Beccue (deceased), Hennepin County sheriff's office Capt. William Chandler, and Ramsey, Hennepin, and Kandiyohi counties.
The suit alleges that McGee and Chandler fabricated unsupported conclusions and gave false testimony, leading to a wrongful conviction. It also claims that Beccue collaborated with McGee to manufacture a case against Rhodes, even before probable cause existed. The lawsuit contends that Beccue provided circumstantial, unrelated facts to McGee, who then disregarded scientific evidence and altered the determination of Jane Rhodes' death from "pending investigation" to "homicide."
Rhodes' release a year ago marked a historic moment as the first individual freed from incarceration due to an investigation and case review by the Conviction Review Unit, established in 2020. The Minnesota Attorney General's Office, citing unreliable evidence and McGee's questionable testimony, agreed to vacate Rhodes' conviction.
The lawsuit, seeking a jury trial, monetary relief, and punitive damages, alleges constitutional violations and malicious prosecution. Rhodes is represented by People's Law Office in Chicago and Minneapolis attorney Tim Phillips.
Brad Thomson, an attorney from People's Law Office, emphasized Rhodes' innocence and the egregious misconduct of the defendants. The lawsuit aims to shed light on the defendants' actions and deliver the justice owed to Rhodes for the nearly 25 years lost, according to Twin Cities.
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Reviews Prompted on Medical Examiner's Credibility
Efforts to reach McGee and Chandler for comment were unsuccessful. Spokespeople for Hennepin County and the Hennepin County sheriff's office declined to comment on pending litigation. Kandiyohi County's administrator did not respond to requests for comment, and a Ramsey County spokeswoman redirected inquiries to the Ramsey County attorney's office.
In light of concerns over McGee's credibility, the Ramsey County attorney's office initiated a review of cases where McGee had been involved. This move followed a federal appeals court judge's decision, labeling McGee's testimony in the murder trial of Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. as "unreliable, misleading, and inaccurate." Rodriguez's death sentence was overturned.
The ongoing review in Ramsey County does not encompass Rhodes' case, but the lawsuit will be shared with the Prosecutors Center for Excellence (PCE), which is conducting the review. Updates on PCE's evaluation of Ramsey County cases involving McGee will be shared with the public at an appropriate time, according to Dennis Gerhardstein, spokesman for the Ramsey County attorney's office.
While Rhodes' murder convictions were vacated, he still faces a conviction for second-degree manslaughter. McGee's testimonies in numerous cases remain under scrutiny as the legal battle for justice continues, CBS News reported.
