Barton "Bart" McNeil- Illinois- Convicted in 1999

I keep meaning to see the episode on Nowlin but keep getting busy. From what I understand the tv shows on Nowlin do not mention Bart which I feel is a bit unfair.

While I stress this is a discussion forum, this is one of the cases I'm more vocal about and step aside from the admin/moderator role because I truly believe in Bart's innocence and I hope one day they can have a show on ID or another crime show or channel about what I feel is an absolute miscarriage of justice.

Hello America's Most Wanted subscribers!  We have an important update on the Barton McNeil case.  Scott Reeder of Suspect Convictions, a popular Podcast series, agreed earlier this year to tell the Barton McNeil story in his Season 2 Podcast.  He is collaborating with National Public Radio in Bloomington WGLT to produce the podcast with GLT News Director Emeritus Willis Kern.  There should be over a dozen episodes, most approximately 30 minutes in length, that will become available on iTunes, Stitcher and Soundcloud each Monday for the next several months.  You can also go to www.FreeBart.org and links will be posted here every week.  Below is Podcast #1 that just released this past week:  

wglt.org/post/suspect-convictions-episode-1-frantic-911-calls-reveal-fathers-grief#stream/0

I think everyone will find this a riveting current news story that begins with Barton's 9-1-1 phone calls requesting emergency medical help for his daughter.  And include his subsequent 9-1-1 phone calls later in the day, after he sees signs that his daughter's bedroom having been broken into.  Interestingly, it is he the father, Barton McNeil, himself who demands Bloomington Illinois Police to send a forensic team to return to his apartment the same day his daughter died.  Earlier that morning, responding paramedics, the Assistant State's Coroner, police and detectives all thought his 3 year old daughter had died of natural causes as she suffered from an asthma condition.  As Scott Reeder and Willis discuss openly on their Podcast, what kind of person that thought they might get away with their child's murder, would be the one then to summon detectives return and not just one, BUT A TEAM OF FORENSIC SPECIALISTS.  And Barton when summoning detectives return, knew EXACTLY WHO it was that had to have murdered his daughter..... Misook Nowlin, now serving 55 years for bludgeoning and strangling her mother-in-law to death 12 years after Barton was convicted in a BENCH TRIAL represented by a PUBLIC DEFENDER, in murdering his daughter Christina.  A girl Barton loved and adored as any father would have.  For Misook however, Barton's attention was focused on Christina as her primary caregiver so Christina in effect had come between her and Misook.  Hence Misook having the motive to murder this helpless little girl by smothering her to death while she lay in bed.  Misook Nowlin needs to be convicted of this crime and shown to the world to be the Female Serial Killer that she is.  Thank you for taking the time to learn more aboue this incredible case.

Yes I am pleased to report that there exists some very positive and favorable findings resulting from DNA testing that will be incorporated into the Motion to be filed by his legal team that should occur within the next several months.  I am not at liberty to disclose what they are but can assure everyone that Barton now has much that should be considered NEW EVIDENCE and that he absolutely and unequivocally will deserve his 1999 murder conviction being vacated and becoming pardoned let alone having his case retried which would be fool hardy as no jury would convict him as opposed to Misook Nowlin.  Yes you are correct in that seemingly thousands of innocents will die in prison before anyone takes a look at their case.  Barton is one of the lucky few.  The Illinois Innocence Project affiliated with the University of Illinois Law School in Springfield, Illinois, states that they receive over 350 requests for legal assistance from inmates and their families each year but can only take on a handful.  They said that an extraordinary many of these requests appear very legitimate.  But like all Innocence Projects across the country that number about 100, they are all overtaxed so must select cases very judiciously. Having the media report on the case putting further pressure on State's officials to do the right thing is of equal importance.  

If any supporter of Bart is reading this, just wanted to mention that Bill Amor, a fellow client of the Illinois Innocence Project, recently had a retrial and was acquittted by the presiding judge.

Hopefully this gives some new hope and inspiration that Bart may one day be free as well.

Hey Chris,

This is the best and most helpful news I've heard in a while. Good luck!!!

Please let us know when the show is about to air!

So many of these shows are mainly about Misook and while it is important to show her evilness, it's nice to finally have Bart the focus of a national crime show episode as well.

Hey Chris,

Thanks for the update! I'll at least make sure to DVR the airing!

And glad to see the wheels of justice- albeit slowly- turning favorably!