mccrackenpostonjr
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- May 21, 2025
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Hello everyone! My name is McCracken Poston Jr. and I’m a criminal defense lawyer in Georgia and Tennessee. Several of my cases have been on shows you may have watched, forensic files, A&E’s American Justice, and NPR Snap Judgment. Most recently you may have heard about another one of my cases on last summer’s number one Apple podcast, “Noble”.
I wanted to share a case I was personally involved in that has stuck with me for decades. In 1999, I defended a man named Alvin Ridley in Ringgold, Georgia. He had lived a quiet, highly private life with his wife, Virginia, who had epilepsy and agoraphobia. When she died at home, he was later arrested and charged with murder—accused of having held her captive for nearly 30 years.
The evidence didn’t support the charge. In fact, after gaining access to Alvin’s home, I discovered a massive collection of Virginia’s handwritten writings—over 15,000 pages—detailing their private but loving life together. These writings were crucial in his acquittal.
What makes this case even more important to revisit: Alvin was diagnosed with autism at age 79, more than two decades after the trial. His diagnosis changed everything about how people understood his behavior—his silence, his routines, even his lawsuits.
I’ve written a book about the case and recently did a Reddit AMA that’s now approaching one million views. The AMA covers behind-the-scenes details, including how a suitcase of evidence released cockroaches into the courtroom mid-trial.
If this case interests you, here’s the AMA:
I’d love to answer questions, if I can.
McP
Happy to answer any questions here too. Thanks for reading.
I wanted to share a case I was personally involved in that has stuck with me for decades. In 1999, I defended a man named Alvin Ridley in Ringgold, Georgia. He had lived a quiet, highly private life with his wife, Virginia, who had epilepsy and agoraphobia. When she died at home, he was later arrested and charged with murder—accused of having held her captive for nearly 30 years.
The evidence didn’t support the charge. In fact, after gaining access to Alvin’s home, I discovered a massive collection of Virginia’s handwritten writings—over 15,000 pages—detailing their private but loving life together. These writings were crucial in his acquittal.
What makes this case even more important to revisit: Alvin was diagnosed with autism at age 79, more than two decades after the trial. His diagnosis changed everything about how people understood his behavior—his silence, his routines, even his lawsuits.
I’ve written a book about the case and recently did a Reddit AMA that’s now approaching one million views. The AMA covers behind-the-scenes details, including how a suitcase of evidence released cockroaches into the courtroom mid-trial.
If this case interests you, here’s the AMA:
I’d love to answer questions, if I can.
McP
Happy to answer any questions here too. Thanks for reading.
