#22: Richard Jewell

The case of Richard Jewell stands as a stark reminder of the rush to judgment and sensationalist media in high-profile investigations. In 1996, during the Atlanta Olympics, a bomb exploded in Centennial Olympic Park, claiming two lives and injuring over a hundred people. Jewell, a security guard who had discovered the suspicious backpack before the blast, was initially hailed as a hero.

However, based on mere circumstantial evidence and profiling, Jewell was wrongfully identified as the prime suspect, and media outlets vilified him relentlessly. He endured public humiliation and endured tireless scrutiny for months before being cleared of any involvement. The real bomber, Eric Rudolph, was eventually apprehended, but the damage to Jewell’s reputation was irreparable.