Evidence photos: The case against Crosley Green
In the early morning hours of April 4, 1989, police received a 911 call from 19-year-old Kim Hallock. She said she was with her ex-boyfriend, Chip Flynn, in his truck in Holder Park in Brevard County, Florida, when a black man robbed and kidnapped them.
What Happened That Night?
Kim Hallock said the assailant tied Chip Flynn's hands with a shoelace, ordered her to hand over money from Chip's wallet, and then, with everyone in this truck, she says the man drove them to an orange grove. According to what Hallock told police, he was steering, shifting gears, and somehow holding a gun on them all at the same time.
What Happened That Night?
Kim Hallock told police Chip Flynn managed to get a hold of his gun that Hallock had hidden on the truck seat. With his hands still tied behind his back "he leaned out of the truck and somehow shot at the guy," but investigators found no gunshot residue on Flynn's hands.
A Single Bullet
When Kim Hallock drove away, leaving Chip Flynn at the orange grove, she said she heard five to six gunshots. But the only bullet found was the one that killed Flynn.
Who Did It?
When investigators found 22-year-old Chip Flynn in an abandoned orange grove, he was laying on his stomach with his hands tied behind his back, bleeding from a gunshot wound to his chest. All he would say is "Get me out of here. I want to go home."
Suspicions Discounted
Sgt. Diane Clarke tried to save Chip Flynn the night he died. She later told prosecutors she suspected Kim Hallock was involved in the shooting, but her suspicions were discounted.
The Investigation
According to a report from the night of the shooting, Kim Hallock said the assailant told her to tie Flynn's hands. But just hours later, in her taped interview she said, "the black man was tying chip's hands."
Listen to her interview with detectives.
The Investigation
Investigators claimed almost immediately they got a tip that a small-time drug dealer, Crosley Green, was involved. Green had recently been released from jail.
The Photo Lineup
Kim Hallock picked Crosley Green [#2] as the assailant from this photo lineup. Green's picture is smaller and darker than any of the other pictures making it stand out. Investigators also told Hallock that the man that they suspected was in the lineup. This is no longer allowed under Florida's current laws.
Crosley Green on Trial
In August 1990, Crosley Green went on trial for the murder of Chip Flynn. The state claimed a dog followed the scent of shoeprints found near Holder Park to a house where one of Green's sisters lived. However, those shoeprints were never linked to Green.
The State's Star Witness
The case against Crosley Green was a one-witness ID case. The trial hinged on the testimony of the state's star witness Kim Hallock. On the stand, Hallock identified Green as the "black man" who attacked her and Chip Flynn.
The Verdict
On September 5, 1990, an all-white jury convicted Crosley Green of kidnapping, robbery and murder. There was no physical evidence that linked Green to the crime.
A New Trial?
In July 2018, a federal judge ruled that prosecutors violated Crosley Green's right to a fair trial because they withheld these notes. The notes said first responders on the scene were suspicious of Kim Hallock and her changing story. Green's conviction was overturned and the judge ordered a new trial. State of Florida appealed that decision.
A New Trial?
On March 12, 2020, Crosley Green's attorneys and those from state of Florida faced off in front of the US Court of Appeals to decide if the lower court order for a new trial will be upheld.
Waiting for the Decision
It has been two years since Crosley Green's conviction was overturned. Green was 31 when he went to prison; he turns 63 this year. Green is currently waiting for the appellate court to rule on his case.