Crosley Green's murder conviction and life sentence for the 1989 killing of Charles "Chip" Flynn was overturned in 2018 when a Florida court granted his release or a new trial because prosecutor Chris White failed to turn over notes to the defense that would likely have helped Green's defense. Green was released from prison in 2021 pending the outcome of the appellate process. Then last year, the federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the trial court decision, upholding Green's conviction, USA Today reports. Green's lawyers with Washington D.C.-based Crowell & Moring had one more option: take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court declined to look at it. With his appeals exhausted, Green was ordered back to prison by Monday. He remains hopeful of clearing his name and going free after having served 30 years.
Green's case has garnered national attention. The numerous issues with his trial have caused many to believe in his innocence, including the two responding officers who arrived at the shooting scene in a deserted orange grove and spoke to the victim before he died. Those two responding deputies believed Flynn's ex-girlfriend, Kim Hallock, was responsible. They relayed their observations to White, who neglected to share the notes he took with Green's trial attorney. Flynn never asked if Hallock had made it to safety or if the "gunman" had been apprehended. Hallock also refused to leave the sheriff's vehicle with deputies to see if Flynn was OK. Gunshot residue tests on Flynn's hands came back negative. Hallock was never tested. She told police that Flynn fired his handgun at a Black assailant and a shootout ensued.