Ferguson given more restrictions
Published Sept. 14, 2007
Ryan Ferguson, who was convicted in 2005 of second-degree murder and first-degree robbery, has been held in administrative segregation, a form of solitary confinement, for several weeks after prison guards discovered contraband in his cell.
Missouri Department of Corrections spokeswoman Angie Daly said Ferguson was placed in administrative segregation on Aug. 17 after receiving a No. 3 violation on Aug. 16.
A No. 3 violation means the possession of dangerous contraband, according to Daly.
"Dangerous contraband is anything that could pose a danger to himself, other inmates or the institution," Daly said.
Ryan Ferguson's cellmate was also placed in administrative segregation. Daly said she could not confirm when the cellmate would be released.
Bill Ferguson, Ryan Ferguson's father, said he had received no new information about his son's administrative segregation.
"I haven't heard anything, but my understanding is that he's doing just fine," Bill Ferguson said. "We only know what we read in the paper. It seems like the parents are the last to find out."
Prior to being placed on administrative segregation, Ryan Ferguson received additional violations based on having contraband. These violations, a No. 11 and No. 24 violation, were issued in February 2007, Daly said.
"Both of those times he was not put in administrative segregation," she said. "He was given restrictions on his living area, recreation and visitors."
Daly said Ryan Ferguson would likely be released from administrative segregation on Sept. 19.
Ryan Ferguson was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the 2001 murder of Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor Kent Heitholt, according to Missouri court documents. In August, the Missouri Supreme Court in Jefferson City ruled that it would not hear a direct appeal of Ferguson's conviction, but he and his family are expected to appeal again.
"In the direct appeal, you can only talk about things that were actually presented in the transcript," Bill Ferguson said. "You can only talk about those things and things that the judge may have made mistakes on."
Bill Ferguson said that since his son's conviction in October 2005, new evidence has been discovered, as well as actions that should have been taken by Ryan Ferguson's attorney.
"We have another 60 days, and then we will file for ineffective assistance," Bill Ferguson said. "Once that happens, we can start to subpoena people and have depositions."
Bill Ferguson said the case is making progress, but it has taken more time to get to the point where the family can present new evidence.
In a continuous effort to proclaim Ryan Ferguson's innocence, his family established a Web site to proclaim his innocence and provide information about the case. FreeRyanFerguson.com includes narratives of the case, copies of composites and contact information for those who support Ferguson's innocence.