Author of 'Devil in the Grove' speaks to Channel 9 about 'Groveland Four'

GROVELAND, Fla. — Channel 9 spoke with the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Devil in the Grove" about the four black men charged with the rape of a teenaged white girl 67 years ago.
 
Much of Gilbert King's book focuses on Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall, who was never charged with the setup or killings of two of the accused men, but FBI files indicated he should have been.
 
Local lawmakers said they want a formal apology for what is described as a "legal lynching."
 
"This whole case starts as a 'To Kill a Mocking Bird'-type story where you have a young white woman who makes these allegations that she's been abducted and raped by four African-Americans," King said.
 
King said he had access to every document, interview and piece of evidence in the case and all signs pointed to a setup by McCall.
 
"He made an implicit deal with the people of Lake County that he was going to deliver swift justice so when the Supreme Court came in and overturned the verdict, he took it on himself to take on capital punishment and he attempted to execute two of the prisoners," King said.
 
McCall killed one prisoner when he said he tried to jump him and the others have died since.
 
Orange County Senior Judge Emerson Thompson said he wants the state to exonerate the four men.
 
A proclamation was read to apologize to the families during Tuesday night's Groveland City Council meeting.
 
"It may seem too little too late, but I can tell you it does mean everything to the families," King said. 

Cox Media Group