#592 Jason Flom with Anthony DiPippo

Jason Flom (0:00)

The episode you're about to hear was originally published in 2017, the very first year of this podcast. It was episode number 25 Now, this interview is near and dear to my heart. Anthony DiPippo courageously shared his story with me shortly after he'd been released from prison and exonerated. Since then, Anthony's done a lot of growing, reflecting on and healing from the trauma of being wrongfully incarcerated for two decades. I couldn't be more proud of the man he's become.

To hear a lot more of Anthony's story and where he is now, check out Bone Valley Season 5, The Devil's Quarry. Host Paul Solotaroff deeply investigates Anthony's case and the person who may have been implicated instead.

A second installment of The Devil's Quarry is coming soon. Paul's back in the same small New York town reporting on a crime with eerie similarities to one Anthony was originally convicted of. Look out for the first episode on September 30th. Trust me, you won't want to miss it. And now, here is Anthony's story.

SPEAKER_2 (1:11)

I think we have the best legal system. It's just the people that implement it. They get lost along the way and forget what their job really is.

SPEAKER_3 (1:20)

He just kept on trying to remind me that who was in authority, who was in control, and how easy it was for my body to be found in any alley of New York City.

Anthony DiPippo (1:33)

It's a tough prison when you have the guards going against you, because they are the biggest gang in the prison.

SPEAKER_2 (1:40)

They do that. They'll give a guy a life sentence and go home and eat spaghetti like it was nothing.

SPEAKER_3 (1:46)

And anybody that would say, well, why would you confess to something that you didn't do? My question to them will be, why wouldn't you confess when somebody is threatening to kill your life?

SPEAKER_2 (1:56)

The judge, he said, how you feel?

SPEAKER_3 (1:58)

I said, I'm okay. He said, well, the day is your lucky day.

You're going home.

Jason Flom (2:15)

Welcome back to Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom. Today's guest is a larger than life character in every way. Anthony DiPippo.

SPEAKER_6 (2:24)

Anthony DiPippo went behind bars as a 19-year-old troublemaker, but insists he was never the killer they said he was.

SPEAKER_5 (2:30)

After 20 years in prison for a crime the courts now say he did not commit.

SPEAKER_6 (2:34)

A jury in Putnam County found him not guilty in the 1994 rape and murder of 12-year-old Josette Wright. This was his third trial for the same crime. The previous convictions were overturned then on Tuesday and acquittal. The main witness against him was a former girlfriend who said she witnessed the attack, but the jury didn't buy it.

SPEAKER_3 (2:52)

What we learned at this trial is that the eyewitness was incredible.

SPEAKER_6 (2:55)

In the third trial the defense was allowed to suggest Howard Gombert is the real killer seen with the victim shortly before her disappearance and currently in a Connecticut prison on sex assault charges. The Putnam County District Attorney though isn't backing down. He insists not guilty is not the same as innocent.

Jason Flom (3:11)

He was freed six months ago. Anthony, welcome to the show.

Anthony DiPippo (3:15)

Great to be on the show. Thank you for having me.

Jason Flom (3:17)

So Anthony is a very interesting guy. I've gotten to know him well over the last several months since he's been out of prison. And when I say he's a larger than life character, what are you, six five?

Anthony DiPippo (3:28)

Almost six six.

Jason Flom (3:29)

Yeah, I mean, he looks like a gentle giant, so just gregarious and funny and fun to be around. And so it really belies the incredible saga that you've lived through, how you came out with your spirit so strong and so positive. And it gives me a lot of joy just hanging around with you. So I'm glad to have you here.

Anthony DiPippo (3:52)

Thank you. I try to live in it for the moment and for the future and not in the past. I did 20 years wrongfully falsely accused of crimes I didn't commit. It's a privilege to be back in society. A lot of people in my situation don't get to make it here.

Jason Flom (4:05)

Yeah, that's true. In fact, we'll get to it. The guy who was wrongfully convicted with you is not here because he's still locked up for the same crime, which is crazy because you've been exonerated. Let's go back to the time of the crime. I mean, you were still a kid, which makes it extra tragic because of the fact that you lost those years. You grew up where?