Published on: Friday, May 16, 2025
Buffalo, N.Y. detective Mark Stambach feeds nonpublic information about a 2004 double murder to a schizophrenic man, who then "confesses" and spends over 10 years in prison before being exonerated. There was no other evidence corroborating Ortiz’s involvement. (And oh, other culprits have since been convicted.) Second Circuit: No need to disturb the $6.5 mil verdict against the detective.
The case is Ortiz v. Stambach, No. 23-00352 (2d Cir. May 9, 2025).