LAW OFFICES OF

RITCHIE, DILLARD, DAVIES & JOHNSON, P.C.

606 WEST MAIN STREET, SUITE 300
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37902

W. THOMAS DILLARD ROBERT W. RITCHIE (1938-2006)

WAYNE A. RITCHIE II CHARLES W.B. FELS (OF COUNSEL)
WADE V. DAVIES
STEPHEN ROSS JOHNSON TELEPHONE (865) 637-0661
JAMES R. STOVALL FACSIMILE (865) 524-4623
SAMANTHA I. ELLIS
www.rddjlaw.com
October 1, 2020

We have learned that our client, Marlon Duane Kiser, died recently. Mr. Kiser, called
Duane by his friends and family, was imprisoned on death row at the Riverbend Maximum
Security Institution in Nashville, Tennessee. He died while court proceedings were pending about
his innocence.

At the time of his death, Duane had a habeas corpus petition pending in United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Among other claims, the
petition raised issues about Duane’s innocence of a first-degree murder committed in Hamilton
County. In addition, a post-conviction DNA petition was pending in the Hamilton County Criminal
Court in Chattanooga, and DNA testing of a key piece of evidence from the crime scene had been
ordered but not yet completed due to delays from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duane is survived by his loving and supportive wife, Melissa, who never stopped fighting
for him, as well as many friends and family members. We had the privilege of helping Duane in
his federal habeas and state DNA testing cases. We got to know Duane well the past couple of
years. He had a firm handshake, a kind smile, and a deep laugh. We will always cherish his
handmade Christmas cards. In our last phone call with him and the defense investigative team, he
said he cared for us and wanted us to be safe and healthy.

It was our honor, and the honor of the defense investigators and professionals working with
us, to fight for Duane. All human life has value, and Duane’s life had value and meaning. May he
rest in peace.

STEPHEN ROSS JOHNSON

WADE V. DAVIES
RITCHIE, DILLARD, DAVIES & JOHNSON, P.C.

BENJAMIN L. MCGOWAN
SUMMERS, RUFOLO, & RODGERS