1	STOP the Injustice Help Us in Our Commitment to Seek Justice for Michael W. Hash Wrongfully Accused and Convicted to a Life Sentence – “Guilty” UNTIL PROVEN Innocent
2	Meet Michael and see how you can Show your Support The Crime and Investigation Case History Recent Actions and Proceedings Articles of Reference Contact Us Ways You Can Help PLEASE PRAY with Us A Message from the Family
3	The Crime and Investigation Thelma Scroggins, a retired postal carrier and a widow was found dead in her home on Sunday July 14, 1996. The following is a brief overview of the crime and investigation: Mrs. Scroggins was last heard from around 9:00 p.m. Saturday evening. When she did not show for church, fellow church members became concerned and went to check on her. When friends approached the home, the TV was loud enough to be heard outside. Once inside, they noticed drops of blood on the floor, and found her body in the bedroom doorway. They called 911. Investigators took numerous photographs and collected evidence, including fingerprints, bloodstains, hairs, fibers, and a drinking cup. However, no prints were dusted from the television, despite the reasonable assumption that the volume was turned up by the perpetrator(s) was obviously intended to mask the gunshots. It was also noted that Thelma Scroggins’ pick-up truck was missing from the shed near her house. It had been sited in many different locations and was found approximately four weeks later in a wooded area about one mile from her home. Her purse (including money and credit cards) and glove box contents were rummaged through and scattered across the seat. Also a map with blood drops was discovered in the truck. Amazingly, no prints were discovered from any of the evidence in the truck, including the truck itself. An autopsy established that she died from gunshots to the head.
4	Case History On May 17^th of 2000, Michael Hash was arrested for the murder of Mrs. Thelma Scroggins of Lignum, Virginia. This crime took place in July of 1996, at which time Michael was only 15 years of age. Michael declared his innocence and entered a plea of NOT GUILTY. In just one week after his arrest, Michael was moved to the Albemarle/Charlottesville Regional Jail for approximately three days, allegedly due to overcrowding in the Culpeper County Jail. A jury trial commenced in February of 2001. The Jury found him guilty and sentenced him to life in prison. NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE linked Michael to the crime. His conviction hinged primarily on the testimony of a “king pin” drug dealer and “professional snitch” (who had a life plus 5 year sentence) ultimately received his freedom for his testimony against Michael. The trial court imposed the sentence set by the jury and denied various motions to set aside the verdict. On appeal, the Virginia Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court in an unpublished opinion. The Virginia Supreme Court denied the petition for appeal and denied the petition for rehearing. At trial and on appeal, Michael was represented by court-appointed attorneys from Charlottesville, Virginia.
5	Recent Actions / Proceedings “A Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus” was entered in April of 2005. Subsequently, a hearing was scheduled before the Culpeper Circuit Court. On July 18, 2005, the “Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus” was heard by Judge John R. Cullen. Newly retained attorney, David B. Hargett, outlined numerous errors in which the court-appointed defense attorneys failed to disclose exculpatory facts and other misrepresentations, as well as evidence of prosecution misconduct. Judge John R. Cullen decided to allow defense to access records from several agencies, including offices of the Culpeper County sheriff and the Commonwealth Attorney. At present, PROCEEDINGS ARE PENDING THE INVESTIGATION OF THESE RECORDS and depositions of certain law enforcement officials.
6	Articles to Reference Area’s Unsolved Mysteries: Are Killings Related; The Free Lance-Star; article by Donnie Johnston; published 3/9/02 (www.fredericksburg.com) Was Evonitz the Mystery Killer?; The Free Lance-Star; article by Donnie Johnston; published 10/25/03 (www.fredericksburg.com) Scroggins Case Back in Court; The Free Lance-Star; article by Donnie Johnston; published 7/19/05 (www.fredericksburg.com) Ruling Could Lead to New Trial; Culpeper Star-Exponent; article by Alicia Petska; published 7/21/05 (www.starexponent.com)
7	You May Contact Us At: The Michael Hash Committee for Justice P.O. Box 809 Richmond, VA 23218-0809 Email: fight4mike@comcast.net PHONE: 540-718-9269 David B. Hargett, Esquire HARGETT & WATSON, PLC Seven South Adams Street Richmond, VA 23220-5601 Email: davidhargett@hargettwatson.com PHONE: (804) 788-7111 Michael W. Hash, #322967 P.O. Box 759 Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
8	Ways You Can Help Your Prayers are Greatly Appreciated Attendance and Support at Upcoming Hearings (Please refer to “Recent Actions / Proceedings” for upcoming hearings and events, or you may supply us with information so that we may contact you.) Correspondence with Advice and Support to The Michael Hash Committee for Justice and the Hash Family Cards and Letters to Michael to Lift His Spirits (only mail with one thirty-seven cent stamp can be accepted) Or, Donations for Financial Support to Assist with Legal Fees (every $ helps) Checks may be made payable to: The Legal Defense Fund for Michael W. Hash c/o The Michael Hash Committee for Justice P.O. Box 809 Richmond, Virginia 23218-0809
9	Please PRAY with Us THANK YOU for taking the time to visit this site and for your care, concern, support, and prayers. We can’t express enough the gratitude we have knowing that there is someone out there who cares enough to at least send a prayer. Please pray for Michael, who is so respectfully and graciously waiting for this to end. Please pray for Pam and Jeff Hash, his parents, who are spending endless hours and are enduring multiple expenses for Michael’s voice to be heard. Please pray for David Hargett, Michael’s newly retained attorney. He has been a God-send to this family through his care, efforts, knowledge, and hard work. May God continue to guide and bless him for his efforts. Please pray for the judges, witnesses, and all involved or connected with this case. Open their eyes, their minds and their hearts to correct the injustice that has wrongfully convicted Michael. Most of all, pray for the truth to be revealed. We know that he is innocent, but we must prove his innocence for him to be able to come home to be with his family. Finding this proof and convincing the courts of Michaels’ innocence is an uphill battle. But, we know that God’s grace and perfect timing is required and is working to reveal and unleash the truth for Michael’s life to one day be restored. We welcome and appreciate any assistance or correspondence you may provide. May GOD BLESS YOU and yours for your support and care.
10	A Message from the Family “If you have read through the case history, recent proceedings and referenced articles written on this case and are unsure as to how you stand on Michael’s innocence, we understand your caution. BUT, there is much more information that has been discovered since his conviction that proves to us that there was incredible mishandling and misconduct surrounding this case, in which Michael was done an injustice. Of course, this discovery was made after the trial, and the discovered information was barred from being presented during the lower court appeal to the state. Only now, in pursuing the writ of habeas, can new evidence be heard and considered. We are asking the state, and, if denied, ultimately the federal courts, for an evidentiary hearing to look at the facts of Michael’s innocence and to uncover and present the evidence of the real perpetrator of this crime. Therefore, we cannot show any new evidence without following an enormous amount of legal avenues to allow us the opportunity for this information to be heard. Fighting the system is an extremely long, hard, and costly process, but we are determined not to give up! Our goal has always been and will always be to get to the TRUTH, not only for Michael but also for the victim.”