Denard Galloway contacted Art for Justice to share his experience of injustice in Pennsylvania's criminal justice system. As he fights for justice while sentenced to life without parole for a crime he says he did not commit, Mr. Galloway creates art to sustain his spirit and keep his hope alive.

Denard wrote, “I have been in prison in PA for 25 years - wrongly convicted of a murder I did not commit. Just imagine my being an innocent man, spending 9000 days in prison and losing 90% of my family while confined.”

My Art

“The adversity I face every day has inspired me to turn my prison cell into a school of higher learning, a place of expression and creativity. Creativity can inspire me to focus mentally and emotionally - it is my safe place and gives me some peace of mind through this treacherous journey. Several of my paintings are of Black women because my mother taught me that women are God’s greatest creation. My journey in life leads me to believe she was correct. I also paint colorful scenes because I have always loved them - as a child I was amazed by seeing the rainbow over the horizon.”

Denard Galloway’s wrongful conviction

• On February 9, 1999 Terry Anderson was shot and killed in New Kensington, Westmoreland County, PA. I was not present at the time and did not know Terry Anderson.
• There is no weapon or DNA evidence connecting me to the crime.
• Allegedly the crime took place during an incident related to illegal drugs. The Prosecution used two witnesses, admitted heroin and crack addicts, as their key witnesses to testify against me.
• Amy Ziccarilli, one of the witnesses, failed to identify or accuse anyone until she was arrested 6 weeks later for unrelated charges. Amy Ziccarilli was arrested twice and confined prior to giving her testimony at my trials. After her testimony, Ms. Ziccarilli was released from confinement. It is possible that while she was in custody, the lead detectives involved in my case used her current legal troubles as leverage to introduce a false narrative which was directed to me as the perpetrator.
• On March 8, 1999 I was arrested, charged and subsequently convicted of a crime I did not commit. As I did not know Terry Anderson or Amy Ziccarilli, and knowing that I was innocent, I had no reason to flee and cooperated throughout the investigations, never missing a court date. I was found guilty of 1^st Degree Murder based solely on the testimony of the two witnesses.

My Fight to Overturn my Wrongful Conviction

• The Honorable Judge John E. Blahovec overturned my murder conviction twice and released me on bail awaiting my second trial. I believe Judge Blahovec recognized my innocence but his hands were bound by the jury’s decision.
• In 2012 the PA Innocence Project accepted my case and attempted to interview Ms. Ziccarilli. She refused to talk to the Investigators for the Innocence Project saying, “If you don’t leave me alone, I’ll call Larry.”
• On 8/3/22 I passed a polygraph examination with a score of 98.2.
• I am currently seeking an Attorney and an Investigator to pursue a PCRA.