This American Life

844: This Is the Case of Henry Dee

October 19, 2025

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  • The Illinois Parole Board, composed of 13 members, convened to decide the fate of 72-year-old Henry Dee, who had served nearly 50 years for a brutal 1971 double murder, despite his consistent claims of innocence. 
  • Henry Dee presented a contradictory record to the board, characterized by decades of being a model prisoner with only four disciplinary tickets in 30 years, juxtaposed with two prior escape attempts. 
  • Despite the severity of the original crime and the co-defendant's admission of guilt, Henry Dee was granted parole by a 9-to-4 vote, largely due to board members weighing his exceptional institutional record and age against his refusal to admit guilt. 

Segments

Introduction to Parole Hearing
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(00:00:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Parole hearings, where long-sentence inmates seek release, have been abolished in about one-third of US states due to conflicting criticisms regarding subjectivity, bias, and leniency.
  • Summary: The episode focuses on a single parole hearing in Illinois, a rare event as many states have eliminated parole boards. Critics from the left found the system subjective and racially biased, while conservatives deemed it too lenient. Reporter Ben Austen aimed to document the process of these monumental decisions.
Parole Board Member Composition
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(00:03:35)
  • Key Takeaway: The Illinois Parole Board consists of 13 members, including former educators, prosecutors, and police officers, legally required to have both Democrats and Republicans, earning about $100,000 annually.
  • Summary: The hearing room was small, accommodating 13 board members sitting elbow-to-elbow. Their backgrounds are diverse, including former principals, prosecutors, and three retired police officers. By law, the board must include both Democratic and Republican appointees.
Henry Dee’s Crime Details
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(00:07:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Henry Dee and a co-defendant committed a brutal robbery in August 1971, murdering cab driver Arthur Snyder and his wife Edith Snyder with a claw hammer and setting the scene on fire.
  • Summary: The crime involved hogtying, gagging, and blindfolding the victims before stealing valuables and beating both to death with a hammer. Evidence of rape existed but led to no charges. The board must weigh the severity of this crime against Dee’s subsequent behavior.
Inmate Dee’s Innocence Claim
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(00:09:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Henry Dee’s consistent claim of innocence, which prevents him from expressing remorse, is a major obstacle to his parole, as he alleges evidence like blood testing and palm prints were mishandled or disappeared.
  • Summary: A key factor for parole is remorse, which Dee cannot offer because he maintains he never committed the murders and was framed by police after being beaten. He claims he refused a plea deal for 20 to 40 years because of his innocence.
Dee’s Prison Conduct and Escapes
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(00:12:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite being a generally model prisoner for decades, Henry Dee’s record includes two escape attempts in 1979 and 1980, the first involving a homemade weapon and polite treatment of the officers he restrained.
  • Summary: After the escapes, Dee earned descriptions like ‘model prisoner’ since 1998, accumulating only four disciplinary tickets over 30 years. His second escape attempt resulted in an additional three-year sentence.
Dee’s Release Plan and Support
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(00:17:19)
  • Key Takeaway: Henry Dee has a stable post-release plan involving living with his elderly mother, supported by over $11,000 in savings, and a job offer from a formerly incarcerated individual who credits Dee with his own rehabilitation.
  • Summary: Statistically, older inmates pose low risk, but the board requires a concrete plan; Dee plans to support his mother and work in food service or sheet metal. Juan Rivera, a man exonerated from a wrongful conviction, offered Dee housing and employment at his Barber College.
Board Deliberation and Voting
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(00:21:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The board wrestled with whether 48 years of incarceration satisfied justice, ultimately granting parole after board member Lisa Daniels suggested that Dee’s refusal to admit guilt might stem from following advice given to his co-defendant, James Sales.
  • Summary: Board members debated the purpose of punishment and the implications of Dee’s innocence claim, which challenges the entire judicial system. Virginia Martinez recommended release, citing Dee’s rehabilitation and health issues. Sal Diaz, despite believing Dee was ‘dirty,’ voted yes, leading to the required majority.
Aftermath of Parole Decision
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(00:43:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Henry Dee was released after 48 years but lived free for less than 12 months, dying in the hospital after being briefly detained by federal authorities for an old escape charge and struggling with homelessness.
  • Summary: After parole, Dee was immediately detained by federal officers for two years on an old escape charge, during which time his mother passed away. Upon final release, he slept in homeless shelters because his promised housing fell through, and he died shortly after being hospitalized.