The Case of Samuel “Baby Sam” Edmonson

Samuel “Baby Sam” Edmonson was arrested in Brooklyn in 1990 and convicted of murder in a case later tied to the controversial work of Detective Louis Scarcella. For more than three decades, he sat in prison for a conviction that would eventually be unravelled by serious questions about the reliability of key testimony and other evidence.

In 2022, after years of legal advocacy and new review of the case, a judge vacated Baby Sam’s conviction, concluding that the conviction should never have stood. After 33 years in prison, he walked free and began rebuilding his life — reconnecting with family, pursuing opportunities, and adjusting to life outside.

For three years, Baby Sam lived as a free man. He worked, planned for his future, and looked forward to restoring his life after decades lost to incarceration.

But in 2025, without a new trial and without new evidence presented in open court, the New York appellate court reinstated the conviction. Legal counsel argued that this reversal was unjust and posed serious questions about fairness and due process.

This page is designed to provide a clear and factual overview of the legal history and controversies in Baby Sam’s case for reporters, advocates, legal professionals, and members of the public seeking verified information.