For years, so many things about Jeff Abramowski’s murder conviction didn’t seem right that I decided to dedicate season 4 of my Murder on the Space Coast podcast to this case.
That podcast set off a chain of events six years in the making.
And now, it appears as if the troubling murder conviction that kept Abramowski in prison for 23 years is going to be vacated, clearing the way for the Melbourne man to return home.
Abramowski’s attorney, Kevin McCann, this week filed a motion to vacate the conviction based on new DNA testing results on the hammer and clothing iron used to kill the 78-year-old drug dealer Cortney Crandall in his Palm Shores mobile home in 2002 and a hair found on the dead man’s finger.
The results show the hair to be from someone other than Abramowski and more importantly male DNA found on the weapons all but excludes Abramowski and is very likely from others.
McCann has been working with the State Attorney’s Office and states in his motion: “This motion is based on a collaboration between the defendant and the state. The state does not oppose this motion and supports the requested relief.”
You don’t hear that often, anywhere. But new State Attorney Will Scheiner did recently tell me that his pursuit is not putting more victories in the “win” column but seeking justice.
“The State Attorney’s Office remains committed to maintaining the integrity of the court system in the pursuit of justice for victims, survivors, and defendants alike,” Scheiner said in a statement released by his office Friday afternoon.
“While the state maintains that the newly discovered evidence does not exonerate Mr. Abramowski, the advancement of DNA testing and technology has resulted in the discovery of information that was not known to the state, defense or the court at the time of Mr. Abramowski’s original conviction. This discovery warrants the granting of a new trial for Mr. Abramowski. My office and team remain committed to the vigorous pursuit of justice for all. “
Murder on Space Coast podcast opens eyes
Incredibly, McCann is not even a criminal defense attorney. But in 2019, a local politician asked him if he would simply review the case. McCann agreed. That was the year Abramowski was featured on FLORIDA TODAY’s Murder on the Space Coast podcast.
“My review began with listening to FLORIDA TODAY’s podcast, Murder on the Space Coast, Season 4, “Where Justice Lies”, created and narrated by investigative reporter John Torres,” McCann said. “This podcast provided an in-depth analysis of Mr. Abramowski’s case and allegations of wrongful conviction. The facts presented shocked my conscious and inspired me to reinvestigate the murder. If not for this podcast, I highly doubt I would have pursued this matter and justice may have never been served.”
Jeff’s daughter, Jamie LeBlanc, who never wavered in support of her dad, also credits the podcast with getting the ball rolling.
“You always supported my dad and stood by our side to tell his story,” she texted me Friday morning. “This never could have started without you, you never gave up. If you didn’t do the podcast then Kevin wouldn’t have gotten involved. You will always be family.”
I feel humbled and grateful by her words. So, what was it about the case and podcast that cast doubt on Abramowski’s conviction?
The Case
Abramowski was a husband and father of two who got hooked on painkillers after a car accident driving his kids to school. His addiction ended his marriage and he started couch-surfing. He made friends with Crandall and started pill mill shopping for him.
Here’s how it worked: Crandall would take Abramowski and others to various shady doctors in the area for opiate prescriptions. Crandall would pay for the visits and in return the “shoppers” could keep some of the pills.
The first red flag in the murder case against Abramowski was that the sheriff’s office always claimed the motive behind Crandall’s murder was to steal drugs.
But when Crandall’s body was discovered, he was found with 200 Oxycontin pills and about $90 on him. It’s hard to imagine killing someone for their drugs and money and leaving it all behind, especially if you’re a drug addict.
That’s not all. There were other, more obvious suspects: There was bad blood between Crandall and drug-addicted Bruce Foley, the 30-year-old son of Crandall’s live-in girlfriend Judy Foley (herself a drug addict). In fact, according to police reports, just a week before Crandall was discovered with the claw of a hammer wedged in his skull, Bruce Foley attacked him with a golf club. This was, according to Bruce Foley, in retaliation of Crandall hiring a pair of thugs to attack him.
From left: Rita Akridge, Bruce Foley, Judy Foley
The Foleys, along with Judy’s sister, Rita Akridge, left town in the middle of the night of the murder before Crandall’s body was found. Law enforcement tracked them down in Alabama and found they had a piece of Crandall’s custom-made jewelry given to him by his daughter, who said her father would never have given that piece away.
I know that I would never give away anything my daughters have gifted me over the years and especially never to a drug addict who would likely pawn the piece.
Crandall’s body was found clutching some of Judy Foley’s hair and Bruce Foley’s blood was found in Crandall’s bathroom sink, even though he supposedly had his own bathroom in the trailer. There was also a blonde hair found on Crandall’s finger that new testing revealed could not have belonged to Abramowski.
But I’ll bet you can guess who did have blonde hair at the time. Yep, Bruce Foley.
I was able to get my hands on interviews conducted by Sheriff’s investigators Gary Harrell and Carlos Reyes who interviewed the trio separately in Alabama. Judy, Bruce and Rita had wildly conflicting stories about why and when they left Melbourne in such a hurry. The only thing their stories had in common was they each conveniently provided the name of a suspect. That person’s name, well, of course was Jeff Abramowski.
It was comical and felt contrived listening to all three telling Harrell and Reyes that they should be looking at Abramowski. All three had a hard time pronouncing his name. Also, they all told agents they left town without any money.
Focus on Abramowski
Agents interviewed Abramowski, they examined his clothing, his laundry and his sneakers. They went over his alibi. They even had Judy Foley wear a wire to try and get Abramowski to incriminate himself. He didn’t.
It’s not entirely clear why investigators switched their focus away from three people close to Crandall who left town in the middle of the night with a piece of his custom-made jewelry just a week after one of them attacked Crandall with a golf club.
More about Abramowski: Abramowski evidence sent to FDLE for testing gives him hope after 21 years | Torres
Murder on the Space Coast: Who is Jeff Abramowski and was he wrongfully accused?
But they were seemingly left off the hook even after they returned to Brevard County and were caught breaking into Crandall’s trailer.
Months later, when Abramowski turned himself into the county jail to clear up a violation of probation stemming from a DUI, he was visited by Harrell and Agent Allie Roberts who interrogated him again in connection with Crandall’s killing.
Only a person innocent of murder or some sort of criminal mastermind would go into the jail to try and clear up a probation violation, right?
The interrogation lasted hours and is painful to watch. It’s clear Abramowski has no idea what they are talking about.
“Do the right thing, brother,” Detective Allie Roberts pleaded with Abramowski during the interrogation as both his chair and agent Harrell’s chair moved closer and closer until Abramowski was pinned in the corner. “You’re not a bad guy. The drugs have cost you everything. I’m trying to get you on the right track. I know it and you know it. But you’re lying to me. It’s time to tell the truth. For once in your life be a man and stand up and tell the truth.”
“Show your kids you’re a man,” Roberts tells him.
“You mean by telling my kids I’m a killer when I’m not?” Abramowski asked.
He maintained his innocence. It didn’t matter. He was soon charged with murder.
Agent lies on the witness stand
During a second 90-minute interrogation, agents Roberts and Harrell continuously told Abramowski that DNA proved his hair was found clutched in Crandall’s hand. They told him the lie 18 times to be exact. Law enforcement is allowed to lie during interrogations.
But, it’s against the law to lie to a judge and jury.
At trial, when questioned by Abramowski’s attorney if he ever told Abramowski the hair in Crandalll’s hand was his, Harrell replied: “No, I did not.”
Maybe if you tell a lie long enough it becomes the truth. The attorney pressed him and Harrell was adamant that he never told Abramowski that.
The hair clutched in the dead man’s hand belonged to Judy Foley.
After his first trial ended in mistrial, Abramowski was found guilty of murder in 2006 and sentenced to life in prison.
Judy Foley has since died. Her sister, Rita Akridge, died by suicide and Bruce Foley resides in Alabama.
What happens now?
McCann has requested a hearing in the next two weeks to put the agreement between the state and himself to vacate the conviction before a judge.
“During Mr. Abramowski‘s trial, the State of Florida presented to the jury a set of purported facts and evidence upon which the jury relied in rendering its guilty verdict,” McCann said. “The results of recently conducted modern-day DNA testing have discredited that evidence and would have likely resulted in a different verdict if presented to the jury. Therefore, pursuant to Rule 3.850 of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, the State and I both agree that Mr. Abramowski’s conviction and sentence should be vacated.”
This doesn’t automatically mean Abramowski will be set free. It will be up to the state to determine if there is sufficient evidence to retry Abramowski.
State Attorney Scheiner did not indicate whether the state plans on trying Abramowski again.
But it would be tough to imagine the state making a case with this new evidence in play and without Harrell lying on the witness stand.
“I very much appreciate the support of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Brevard County State Attorney’s office in my pursuit to seek justice in this matter,” McCann continued. “Although mistakes may have been made in the initial investigation and prosecution, the local law enforcement community is committed to correcting mistakes and ensuring justice is served.”
Abramowski’s daughter, Jamie, never doubted this day would come. I know this personally. As my dental hygienist she tells me every time I see her.
“I am so incredibly thankful that Mr. McCann and the State Attorney’s Office worked together to give us hope that my dad will soon come home where he belongs,” she said. “This has been a terrible nightmare for the last 23 years. I always knew in my heart that one day the truth would come out and my best friend would come home to me. We still hope for justice for Mr. Crandall and his family and will keep them in our prayers. I absolutely cannot wait to see my dad outside of the prison walls again.”
Hopefully soon, Jamie.
Contact Torres at jtorres@floridatoday.com. You can follow him on X @johnalbertorres or on Facebook at facebook.com/FTjohntorres.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Convicted of murder 23 years ago, Brevard man may soon go free | Torres