The Team
Scott Poggensee
For many years, first-time filmmaker Scott Poggensee and a small group of friends and family waged something of a crusade in the defense of Brandon Woodruff. To help in their efforts Poggensee produced a documentary to show to supporters. In doing so he uncovered a series of lies and deception that bent the truth that led to the conviction of Brandon. This documentary will be used as the foundation of our series. In late 2020, Poggensee’s film came to the attention of Emmy winning journalist and documentarian Richard Ray. After examining the evidence, Ray agreed to help produce and write a documentary series. Since then both the Innocence Project of Texas and Lamda Legal have signed on, offering Brandon’s appellate lawyer assistance. The Free Brandon Woodruff movement grows by the day.
Richard Ray
Richard Ray is a five-time Emmy winning TV journalist and documentarian who spent 36 years as an Anchor/Reporter at KDFW-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth. He covered the Contra War in Central America and won Emmys for his coverage of the Oklahoma City bombing, the standoff at Waco and and the JFK assassination. He won numerous other awards, including those for his work on the Waco Standoff and the South Asia tsunami. Ray became interested in Brandon’s story in late 2020, after seeing Scott Poggensee’s rough cut documentary and listening to the American Justice Podcast. Ray’s examination of the evidence has since led him to join the movement to get to the truth.
The Impact
Brandon Woodruff is a very sympathetic figure -- a sweet kid and class clown who was never in any serious trouble. He won scholarships for his skill in raising show animals. He loved caring for and riding horses. He was a budding actor and model. At 140 pounds and slightly built, it’s hard to see him committing the brutal crime he’s accused of.
By all accounts, he loved his parents and they loved him. In one, particularly poignant moment during a behind-bars interview Brandon explains how he feels his parents are still with him. “I’ve never been raped in here. I’ve never been seriously hurt,” Brandon tells Scott Poggensee. His parents, he believes, are with him in the penitentiary every day and protecting him. Brandon Woodruff has been behind bars for 15 years and counting. But he has never wavered in proclaiming his innocence. Brandon believes one day it will be proven. With your help, we can work faster to exonerate an innocent man.
Risks & Challenges
We want to make it very clear -- this film will be made and will eventually expose the corruption and homophobic bias that was used to convict Brandon Woodruff of something he didn't do. Please help today so that we can make that sooner rather than later.
Other Ways You Can Help
Please go to our Facebook page, FreeBrandon.org, and sign our petition to get the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to look at Brandon's case. You can see it here:
https://www.change.org/BrandonWoodruff
THANK YOU!