Episode 82 Fred Zain

For years, Fred Zain was one of West Virginia’s most trusted forensic experts. Prosecutors relied on his findings, juries believed his testimony, and men were sent to prison based in part on the science he presented in court.Then DNA testing began telling a very different story.In this episode of Poisoned Appalachia, we uncover the Fred Zain scandal—questionable lab results, ignored warnings, wrongful convictions, and an investigation that cast doubt on scores of criminal cases in West Virginia and beyond. We also look at the innocent men who lost years of their lives before the evidence against them finally began to unravel.How many lives can one trusted expert destroy before someone finally checks his work?