Kevin Herrick & Leo Schofield serving life as innocent men

First and foremost, Kevin’s hope is in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Kevin is a modern day, Paul. He has lived with his “thorn” and has spread the love of Christ to those around him both in and outside of the prison walls. 

Kevin has also been blessed to have his best friend, Leo Schofield, with him every step along the way. You may or may not be familiar with Leo’s case from the show 20/20 season 45, episode 1 premier "Last Seen in Lakeland" and the Lava for Good podcast Bone Valley hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Gilbert King.

Kevin and Leo have both been incarcerated for over three (3) decades and have been together for nearly 25 years. They share a common bond as two innocent men who have been wrongly accused and convicted of a crime they did not commit. They are uniquely yoked together with the burden of their injustice and have committed to advocate for each other until true justice is realized for both of them. 

Over the years Kevin and Leo have lead worship services with their band “The Watchers”. They both play led guitar and sing vocals and have written many original songs and actually recorded an album together in 2018 which is available for download on several music apps. 

The inspiration for “Kevin is Next” comes from the highs and lows of Kevin and Leo’s journey together.  

• In 2001 Kevin was granted a Federal Evidently Hearing where he was certain that he would be granted a new trail with competent representation for which he would walk out the prison doors wearing a “Leo is Next” T-shirt. Unfortunately, Kevin was not granted a new trial.
• In 2004 Leo petitioned for a new trial when fingerprint evidence was tested for the first time and matched a convicted murderer who is serving life for robbing and strangling a man with a phone cord in 1988. This breakthrough led Leo to believe that he would walk out wearing a "Kevin is Next" T-shirt. But that was not the case.
• In 2006 Kevin was certain he would wear the “Leo is Next” T-shirt anticipating that The Innocence Project would be granted permission to test the three unidentified hairs using the DNA testing which was not available back in 1990. However, The Innocent Project had no option except to conclude their representation of Kevin when the motion for post-conviction DNA testing was inexplicably denied.
• In 2016 Leo was granted a motion for new trial when the convicted murderer that matched the only fingerprints in Michelle’s car confessed to killing his wife. But as the T-shirt yoyo would have it, Leo was once again denied justice and would not be wearing the “Kevin is Next” T-shirt. 

• Leo was granted parole on April 17, 2024 and walked out of Everglades Correctional Institution on April 30th wearing the “Kevin is Next” shirt.

While parole is a major hurdle in obtaining freedom, both Kevin and Leo are seeking exoneration, which is the final step in proving their innocence.  This story is just beginning.