Ep. 082 | Dianna and Kevin Green
In 1979, in Tustin, California, Dianna Green was brutally beaten and raped in her apartment while pregnant, leaving her in a coma and causing the death of her unborn child. Her husband, Kevin Green, told police the couple had an argument that night so Kevin left to get food and give Dianna some space - but when Dianna regained consciousness weeks later, she accused him of the attack. Despite his insistence that he was innocent, Kevin was convicted in 1979 of attempted murder and assault causing fetal death and sentenced to life in prison.
More than sixteen years later, DNA testing on evidence from the crime scene revealed the real perpetrator was Gerald Parker, a serial killer known as “The Bedroom Basher,” who confessed to attacking Dianna and murdering several other women in Orange County around the same time. Kevin was fully exonerated and released in 1996, while Parker was sentenced to death. Dianna later publicly apologized to Kevin for the mistaken accusation that had cost him nearly two decades of his life.
SOURCES:
Blashaw, J. F. (2015, July 23). Retired Tustin Lt. recalls twisted tale of murder and making things right. Behind the Badge. https://behindthebadge.com/retired-tustin-lt-recalls-twisted-tale-of-murder-and-making-things-right/
Cekola, A., & Reza, H. G. (1996, August 20). O.C. grand jury heard Parker admit 6 killings. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-08-20-mn-35921-story.html
Goodyear, C., & Hallissy, E. (1999, October 19). The other side of DNA evidence: An innocent man is freed. San Francisco Chronicle. https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/the-other-side-of-dna-evidence-an-innocent-man-2900954.php
Hua, T., Romney, L., & Platte, M. (1996, June 22). Ex-Marine charged in ’70s killings. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-22-mn-17539-story.html
Icenogle, L. S. (2018, September 5). Constitution Day seminar features wrongly convicted Kevin Green. Casper College News. https://www.caspercollege.edu/news/2018/09/constitution-day-seminar-features-wrongly-convicted-kevin-green/
Innocence Project. (n.d.). Kevin Green [Case profile]. Innocence Project. https://innocenceproject.org/cases/kevin-green/
Lynch, R., & Filkins, D. (1996, June 26). Green’s ex-wife insists he beat her. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-26-mn-18770-story.html
Mitchell, R. A. (1996, October 6). Innocent man revels in normal life after 17 years in prison. Deseret News. https://www.deseret.com/1996/10/6/19269960/innocent-man-revels-in-normal-life-after-17-years-in-prison/
Orange County Sheriff’s Department. (2020, September 21). Forensic history: The man that was freed thanks to science. https://www.ocsheriff.gov/news/forensic-history-man-was-freed-thanks-science
Reza, H. G., & Lynch, R. (1996, June 23). Freed O.C. man goes home to tearful reunion. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-23-mn-17943-story.html
Sportskeeda. (2025, January 9). 5 key details about Dianna D’Aiello’s assault. Sportskeeda. https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/shows/5-key-details-dianna-d-aiello-s-assault
Yi, D. (1999, December 8). Wrongly convicted man settles lawsuit brought by ex-wife. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-dec-08-me-41671-story.html
