Have you ever heard about Nick Yarris’ story? If not, then it’s about time you do because this is something like no other. Yarris was a young boy when a tragic event led him to a wild way of living as a teenager. It wasn’t long before he had troubles with the law. Lawyers gradually became his best friends, and courts were places he visited numerous times in his life. He was convicted for the violation and murder of a woman and he was eventually sent to death row. As years passed, the latest technological advancements shed light on his case and people were shocked by the results!
A Life Full of Struggles
Nick Yarris’ story is one that’ll bring tears in your eyes. When he was a child, a tragic event marked his life forever and set him on a course toward self-destruction, grief, and eventually imprisonment. After spending over two decades incarcerated, new clues to the original story that led him in jail changed his case and the outcome was his personal salvation. Here, we’re going to dig into Yarris’ story—from depression and harrowing life conditions to a triumphant personal victory.
When Yarris Was A Child, Something Marked His Life Irreparably And Led Him To Nightmarish Habits. Click NEXT.
Losing His Childhood Innocence
Yarris was a child just like anyone else—dreaming big about the future, playing with his schoolmates and having fun any way he could. It was at age seven when tragedy hit him. A teenage boy who lived in his area approached him, hit him in the head and violated him, leaving him with a concussion and some brain damage. No attorneys were involved, as he didn’t tell his family. But nothing could take back the fear and pain that his innocent soul experienced. His life was never going to be the same.
What Was Yarris’ Next Moves As a Teenager? Are You Optimistic? Well, Maybe Think Again!
Teenage Years and a Turn for the Worse
As a teenager, Yarris couldn’t escape the pain of his past. So he sought refuge in something we’re all afraid of: drug abuse. In order to sustain himself financially, he stole automobiles with a friend of his and sold them for a couple of hundred bucks. Getting involved in petty crime, he was able to make some fast cash. But on the other hand, this story was about to get him into some serious trouble and his case took a turn that he would have never guessed.
What Impact Did His Criminal Activity Have On His Already Messed-Up Life? Keep Reading To Find Out!
The Night of the Incident
There was this one night when Yarris drove one of the vehicles he had stolen in his native state of Pensylvania when a police officer pulled him over in order to check out what happened. Nick ended up getting in a brawl with the officer, who pulled out his gun to immobilize Yarris. Unexpectedly, the gun discharged and Yarris couldn’t avoid being arrested. While he could have just been arrested for a DUI, his fight with the policeman would now result in severe repercussions for him.
It Turns Out That Yarris Was About To Get In A Lot Of Trouble. Don’t Miss That Next One!
Awaiting for His Conviction
Yarris couldn’t have escaped his arrest. But while he waited to hear the charges pressed against him, he was stunned to find out that the police officer had created a fictional story which would surely ruin Nick’s life. He claimed that Yarris tried to kidnap him and kill him, something that never happened. Eventually, the young man was charged for attempting to kidnap an officer, stealing a vehicle, possession of a gun, driving under the influence, and refusing to cooperate with the authorities.
While Waiting For His Trial, Yarris Thought He Had Found A Miraculous Idea That Would Get Him Out Of Trouble. How Did This Work Out, Though?
Trying to Find a Solution
Yarris was devastated by the fact that a person in authority like a police officer had made up such a story. But while he was in prison waiting to face trial, he read a newspaper and came up with something. Sitting in his cell, he read about the violation and murder of a woman named Linda Mae Craig. He thought he could make up a story as well, and give fake info about her death to the authorities in order to reach a settlement with them about his time in prison.
His Testimony Looked Reasonable, But There Was A Major Plot Hole In It. Click NEXT!
His Story and How it Affected Him
The authorities called Yarris and asked him about information regarding Craig’s case. He pointed out that there was a specific drug addict named Jimmy who had committed the crime. Yarris relied on the fact that people in the area had heard that Jimmy had passed away due to an overdose. To everyone’s surprise, Jimmy was still alive. And even worse (for Nick), he had an alibi to prove that he wasn’t the one who did it. Police officers now regarded Yarris as the prime suspect of the case.
His Trial Was Imminent, And Yarris Had Failed To Trick The Authorities. Who Testified For Him, Though?
Heading to Court
The trial was set to take place four months after this. And though Yarris had a criminal defense attorney, he had few people to testify for him. In fact, he only had his family who had already kicked him out due to his intoxication. Yarris describes his time in court as something tragic, as he saw his father and mother testifying for him while everybody considered him to be a monster. It was a procedure that he wished he would have never put them through.
It Didn’t Take Long For The Judge To Decided If Yarris Was Guilty Or Not. What Do You Think Was The Outcome?
Receiving the Worst of Sentences
Yarris’ trial had begun and after receiving his family’s testimony, the jury showed pictures of the victim being stabbed. The judge and jury were in shock. In fact, it didn’t take them too long to decided that Nick was guilty. He was found guilty for the abduction, violation, and murder of Linda May Craig. The policeman couldn’t prove his story and the original charges were dropped. But for Craig’s case, he was sent to death row in 1982 as his lawyer couldn’t do anything.
Click NEXT If You Want To See Where Yarris Was Imprisoned And The Trials And Tribulations He Went Through.
His First Days in “Hell”
It was a devastating trial for Yarris, but it was about to get even worse. He was sent to one of the worst jails in Pennsylvania. Being in solitary confinement destroyed his mental state. Though he gradually got used to it, he claimed that the first two days in isolation were the worst of his life. He couldn’t use any bail money, as a bail hearing wasn’t allowed. He had to withstand another 8,755 days isolated, with the guards hitting him so hard that even his retina detached.
Yarris Had To Do Something While In Prison, But You’ll Never Guess What It Was!
Months After Months, Pages After Pages
Being alone was very difficult for Yarris at first, and he only got to see his family two times a year as they lived 4 hours away and they weren’t allowed to see him more. Thus, the inmate started reading several books. He said that before his execution, he wanted to make a fervent statement without stuttering. It’s amazing how many times such extreme circumstances force people to start caring about their education for the first time in their life. And frankly, it’s never too late.
Did Yarris Ever Manage To Get An Appeal? What If We Told You He Did, But They Were All Ruined? Click NEXT To Find Out Why!
Seeing the Sun After a Very Long Time
During his time in prison, Yarris had made several appeals. There had been hearings for a parole, but they never succeeded. The reason? He escaped after just three years in jail. While being taken to court one day, he and his police escorts stopped to relieve themselves, and through a series of unfortunate mishaps, Yarris was forced to flee. They lost track of him and he even outran a helicopter. He had little money, but he managed to get an airplane and go to Florida.
How Did Being Free Feel After Three Years In Isolation? Keep Reading For More Details!
25 Days of Freedom
Yarris described his time as a fugitive as “crazy”. He couldn’t believe he was free to do whatever he wanted again, breathing fresh air and having fun. He went down to Coco Beach, where a lot of parties were thrown for Spring Break, and met a girl named Vicky. Soon after, they started dating and he spent some days with her, without fearing for a possible arrest. A couple of days later, though, things drastically changed.
He Was Out Having Fun, But It Wasn’t Long Before The Heat Around His Name Started Increasing. Keep Reading!
Living Under Constant Fear
Nick’s plan was to leave Florida in a couple of days and seek refuge in Suriname. But things changed when he saw that he was then included in the country’s 10 Most Wanted criminals. The only thing he felt by then was fear. He was afraid that at any moment, someone would shoot him or arrest him out of nowhere. Even if he suffered an accident, nobody was going to help him as he was a fugitive.
So What Was Yarri’s Ideas On His Constant Fear Of Getting Killed? Click NEXT And You’ll See!
Returning to the Darkness
Nick’s days of freedom were just 25. Especially after seeing himself in the 10 Most Wanted list, he couldn’t bear the weight of being a fugitive anymore so he turned himself in willingly. Amazingly, Vicky spoke with the kindest words about him when he found out who he was. From suffering child abuse and isolation to roaming homeless on the streets, Yarris was once again in the most dangerous place on earth: level 5, supermax security prison.
His Days In Jail Were About To Become Even Harder, As He Had To Withstand Severe Punishment For Fleeing.
Several Years of No Contact
When he returned to jail, the prison guard marked Yarris as ‘Red X-ed’—which meant that nobody was allowed to touch him. The purpose of that was to completely isolate him from the other prisoners. What he did during those years is truly heartbreaking. Many a time, Yarris would sit on his arm until it went completely numb. He would then touch or rub his face to give himself the impression that someone touched him, in order to feel less lonely. It was obvious that his mental health was in bad shape.
His Mental State Was Once Again Challenged, But This Time In a Different Way!
Not Your Ordinary Prison Gym
Most prisons tend to have some pretty decent gyms, as many inmates care about their shape and like to workout while they’re in jail. Well, in Yarris’ case, there was no ordinary gym. In fact, all the inmates who were sent to isolation used to exercise in steel cages and were allowed to do it for just 30 minutes. Not only that, but the guards would pit inmates against one another for their own entertainment. If an inmate wouldn’t fight, the guards would attack him en masse and beat him senseless. They called it “Gladiator Night”.
If You Thought That The Cells Were Small, Wait Until You Check Out Yarris’ Cell! Click NEXT!
22 Years in There
Just like the cages that Yarris exercised in, his cell was tiny. It was measured around 9 ft. by 6 ft. and he had no ability to communicate with other prisoners. He felt alone and helpless and his room looked like a complete mess. Apart from the consequences of isolation, as we mentioned before, the guards frequently became violent towards him and that made his time in prison a living hell. Miraculously, things would change and it wasn’t going to be the job of a felony attorney!
Did All These Have Any Positive Impact On Yarris And His Behavior? Maybe. Keep Reading If You’re Curious!
Changing His Way of Thinking
While isolation and the adverse conditions that Yarris went through were originally harrowing for him, he gradually changed his mind entirely. In the beginning, he was filled with anger and despair. But as he got used to the situation he was into, he managed to get to know who he really was and practically became his own personal psychologist. He learned how to be more patient and how not to overthink about circumstances he can’t change.
While Everything Pointed Out That the Electric Chair Waited For Him, A Big Break Became His Life-Changer! Don’t Miss That Next One!
Redemption
In 1988, Nick Yarris became the first death row inmate to request a DNA test. What frustrated him a lot was the fact that the whole procedure delayed tremendously and there had been many implications—like a package with DNA evidence breaking in a laboratory. He couldn’t take it anymore. So in 2001, Yarris asked the authorities to execute him. In 2003, though, a judge requested a re-testing and it was proven that he was innocent after 22 excruciating years in prison.
It Was A Miracle, But It Had Been Years Since Yarris Experienced Life Outside Of Prison. How Did He React?
A New Life’s Begins
In 2004, Nick Yarris was released from prison for good. Not being surrounded by guards and crime lawyers was something that he hadn’t experienced in over 2 decades. Originally, everything seemed very bizarre to him; he wasn’t even used to fresh air. It had been years since he wore proper shoes, and the sudden feeling of freedom almost made him feel uncomfortable. He decided to do a lot of stuff, though, to make a fresh start.
What About Yarris’ Actions Post-Prison? Let’s Check ‘Em Out!
America Belonged to the Past
After being freed from prison, Yarris made a trip to the UK and he instantly fell in love with it. He loved the sense of security and, as he said, he liked the fact that the streets were not full of guns. In 2005, he moved to Britain where he found refuge after his nightmarish past in the States. He even got married to a woman named Jessica Stubley, with whom he had a baby. Their marriage eventually resulted in a split, though.
What Kind Of Father Yarris Actually Is? If You Want To Know ASAP, Then Click NEXT!
Dad Duties
Surprisingly, Yarris has gotten married three times. After divorcing Jessica Stubley, he returned to the States where he got married to another woman. They split as well, and now he’s married to Laura Thompson. He and his wife live in Oregon, alongside their three daughters. Nick claims that he has left his past behind, and he doesn’t want to feel angry about what happened. He loves being a father, even if that means a lot of insurance premiums, for a man who was in prison a couple of years ago.
You Won’t Believe What Yarris Did Next! Read About His Next Move.
Telling His Story
Nick’s story has been truly an amazing one and he wanted to inspire people and encourage them to never give up. As he claimed, people tend to consider death row inmates as losers, despite not knowing anything about their past. He also stated that during his time in jail, he read more than 9,000 books. It was time for him to release his own one, an autobiography called The Fear of 13. It became a best-seller and people loved him and his unique spirit.
Are You Curious About How Yarris Feels About All The Stuff He Went Through?
The Past Belongs to the Past
Being interviewed about his book and his life, Yarris stated that when he thinks about his life in prison and all the adverse conditions he went through, it reminds him of an old movie which used to terrify him. Withal, Nick has now entirely left his past behind, and he doesn’t let that old film scare him anymore. He added that if it hadn’t been for all the difficulties he had to go through, he would have never changed for the better—and it’s something he’s thankful for.
His Book Became A Best-Seller. But Wait, There’s More! Click NEXT!
Moving to the Small Screen
His book became that successful and popular that Netflix decided to produce a show about it, titled The Fear Of 13: Countdown to Execution. It was released in 2015, starring Yarris himself. It’s a documentary adaptation of Nick’s book, where he talks about his shocking days as an inmate and his fight to prove that he was ultimately innocent. The show became quite popular, and it also helped Yarris get some bucks in his savings account for him and his family.
Was Yarris Ever Compensated For The Injustice He Suffered? Keep Reading For More Info!
Getting What He Deserved
Following his release, Yarris felt that they had done him wrong and he had to do something about it. Eventually, he filed a lawsuit against the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, and the trial leaned to his side. He was compensated with an impressive $4 million in 2008 for being wrongfully sent to prison, and he was then able to plan his future easier and safer. Just like he did in all fields of his life, his financials needed a fresh start as well.
Yarris Then Tried To Raise Awareness About a Serious Moral Matter Which Once Affected Him As Well.
The Death Penalty and Its Consequences
Now a free man, Yarris has organized many campaigns regarding the ban on the death penalty, as he claims that there is no reason for its existence. He made an example regarding Ted Bundy, whose cell was close to his once, stating that nothing happens if you just execute people. There are many more things that the State can do to help former criminals find their path in this life and reintegrate themselves in society. He considers the death penalty to be a severe form of personal abuse.
From Inmate to Spokesperson—His Charitable Actions Don’t End There, Though! Read More!
Helping Youngsters
As we mentioned, Yarris doesn’t view his experience as a negative thing. In fact, it was his time in jail that motivated him to change. This life-changing experience persuaded him to help young people as well. He’s toured in many schools, talking about the dangers of drugs and crime and trying to keep children away from the streets. He hopes that by telling his story, teenagers will not fall into the same traps that he did in life.
Yarris Managed To Get Back On His Feet. But In The Beginning, It Was A Tough Task!
Accepting Freedom
People who’ve spent many years in prison end up feeling safer in a cell than they do on the outside world. That’s exactly what happened to Yarris. He knew that his fellow inmates were perfectly honest with who they were, something that doesn’t always happen in our everyday lives. Even freedom is something that you need to get used to and accept. But thankfully, he succeeded in his later ventures and proved that attorneys and guards are not always the solution.
There’s Still Something That Troubles Him, Though, And We Think It Troubles You As Well! Wanna Know More?
The Truth Left Unheard
Though everything belongs to the past now, there’s still something bugging Yarris’ mind. After all these years, Linda Craig’s killer still remains unknown and nobody has even the slightest clue about who he is or if he’s still alive. He doesn’t feel right about the story he made up, and he hopes that newer technological advancements and DNA tests will reveal the truth about who committed such a brutal crime. It certainly wasn’t him, though.
Not Many People View Imprisonment As Yarris Does, But He Definitely Has A Point! Keep Reading!
Where There’s Shadow There’s Light
Yarris definitely hopes he had never gone to prison at all. But after seeing how much he changed his life after that, he doesn’t regret what he did. He claims that prisoners live a nightmare every day, and he feels delighted for having used his past experiences to help and educate people in the most effective way—as they hear stuff from someone who experienced absolute hell. He believes a man’s well-being is something of utmost importance.
It’s Safe To Say That In A Way, Death Row Saved Yarris’ Life! Why, Though?
Luckier Than His Friends
During an interview, Yarris talked about his childhood friends and the people he hung out with as a teenager—many of them helped him steal vehicles and other stuff. From what he said, most of them developed addictions and others even lost their lives. After his amazing story, Yarris ultimately found out that there’s no greater treasure in life than life itself. It’s something that he holds on to every day since he escaped from his four-walled nightmare.