Michigan v. David Lee Gavitt—Thrice Burned

The chapter details the case of David Gavitt, wrongfully convicted of arson and murder in 1985 after a house fire killed his wife and two children. Investigators initially concluded the fire was set using ignitable liquids based on misinterpreted burn patterns and a seriously flawed chemical analysis of carpet samples. In 2010, the University of Michigan Law School Innocence Clinic requested a review of the case. Re-analysis of the data revealed that the original chemical analysis was deeply flawed, with chromatograms failing to match gasoline standards. The fire scene investigation was also unreliable due to the extended burn time affecting the investigators’ ability to correctly interpret fire patterns. Despite initial resistance from prosecutors, Gavitt was released in 2012 after 27 years in prison. The case highlighted issues with outdated fire investigation techniques and the challenges exonerees face in seeking compensation. It took until 2019, under a new Attorney General, for Gavitt to receive $1.3 million in compensation. The case inspired academic papers on “shifted science” in criminal justice and demonstrated the need for better scientific practices in fire investigation and evidence analysis.