The love story of Larry Moses and Gloria Armour started over a decade earlier than the wrongful conviction that stole practically 30 years of his life. The New Orleans couple met of their 20s, when his brother — who was relationship her sister — secretly organized an encounter. “We hit it off excellent,” says Armour, now 68. “I simply favored his disposition and the way in which he had about himself.” They dated for about 5 years earlier than drifting aside. Then Moses’ nightmare started.
In January 1994, at a Ninth Ward intersection, Alma Causey and Daniel Ratliff have been fatally shot throughout a theft. Nearly six months later, a person with critical psychological sickness named Frederick Stamps known as the police and blamed Moses.
The state constructed its case on Stamps’ testimony and that of a lady who was looking of her window in the course of the crime. She mentioned she’d heard the robber’s voice however couldn’t absolutely verify that it belonged to Moses, whom she knew. She didn’t see the assailant’s face and even the capturing, and as an alternative described a determine who didn’t match Moses’ peak or construct.
Whereas no bodily proof tied Moses to the crime, and a number of witnesses testified that he had been together with his household in one other metropolis, he was convicted of first-degree homicide and sentenced to life in jail in 1995. He averted a loss of life sentence by a single vote.
Moses tried to enchantment his conviction, however was unsuccessful. He contacted Innocence Undertaking New Orleans in 2002, and the group took his case 20 years later. Their investigation discovered info that hadn’t been disclosed to the protection and known as into query the credibility and accuracy of the state’s eyewitness testimony. The group additionally revealed Stamps’ inconsistent accounts of the crime and that he’d admitted to others that he’d set Moses up as a result of what he described as a romantic rivalry.
Moses’ conviction was vacated on Might 25, 2023, and the costs in opposition to him have been dropped a month later. He acquired out of jail at age 68, having served 29 years, and is at present pursuing compensation for his wrongful conviction. On this interview, edited for readability and size, the divorced father of three recollects how he and Armour first related, how they reunited, and why, as she says, “there’s by no means a uninteresting second” once they’re collectively.
Gloria was 25 after I met her. I used to be 27, driving Cadillacs and had lots cash as a result of I used to [do] manufacturing facility work within the refinery. I recall myself being somewhat quick as a result of most ladies favored the dudes that labored and had cash. I flaunted myself. However [Gloria was] by no means on that factor of, Oh, you bought to purchase me this, and you bought to purchase me that. We have been simply in love. She all the time was open arms after I confirmed up.
I ain’t gonna inform [our breakup] story, however the final time I noticed Gloria [before jail] it was a pleasant summer time day. [Laughs.] I attempted to smuggle her up, and he or she wasn’t going for it. I mentioned to myself, “Nicely, I assume I acquired to place in somewhat time coming to see her.” After which the subsequent factor I do know, I used to be simply lifted off to jail for one thing I didn’t do.
What actually acquired me within the state of affairs was serving to a good friend of mine. Her boyfriend was beating her up. I finished it and he simply put the unsolved homicide costs on me. The police simply didn’t do a radical investigation. I believe they have been simply clearing the books again then. It was like, We’re simply going to place you over there, and also you combat your method again out.
Moses had prayed to see Gloria once more whereas he was in jail. “I’d sit on my little bunk taking part in music, and I’d ask myself, “Who do I wish to share my blessing with? It needed to be Gloria.”
I used to be a bit bitter when it first occurred to me. I even needed to get the physician to present me some sleeping capsules after I acquired convicted. However then I began considering. I took stock of myself whereas I used to be in jail. I wanted to seek out God. After I [did], it made me humble.
What most individuals don’t perceive about life is lonesomeness is nice on your soul, so you’ll find your self. If I sat there and pitied myself, then I [couldn’t] assist myself. So I simply stood sturdy. I walked by way of the struggle saying, “I do know my God acquired my again.” I all the time saved my sanity and my morals and rules after I was in jail. I used to inform [the men], “Try to be combating the system, not him.”
Armour on the way in which to her niece’s party in Slidell, Louisiana.
I had associates getting married up in jail, however I wasn’t doing it. That will be placing my household by way of the identical factor I used to be going by way of. They have been already in jail with me, worrying any time I didn’t name. Nonetheless, I ain’t by no means stopped eager to have anyone’s love. I prayed for it.
She don’t imagine me, however I all the time considered Gloria. When the caseworker instructed me I’d be getting out, I nonetheless had six months. I’d sit on my little bunk taking part in music, and I’d ask myself, Who do I wish to share my blessing with? It needed to be Gloria. However I didn’t know the place she was since I had been away, and folks acquired displaced from the hurricanes.
After I lastly acquired out of jail, I used to be dwelling throughout the river in [a transitional] home [owned by Innocence Project New Orleans]. I may have taken Uber, however I needed to trip the bus. I believed perhaps I may acknowledge among the individuals I’d grown up with. I used to catch the bus happening Broad. I’d get to American Road and suppose, My woman used to dwell proper down the road. Nicely, God, will I ever stumble upon Gloria?
Then someday on the bus cease, whereas I used to be speaking to 2 different individuals, this woman comes and sits proper alongside me. I checked out her title tag, and it didn’t register. I saved speaking, then she mentioned, “That you simply, Larry?”
I turned and mentioned, “Larry Moses!”
Then I mentioned, “Gloria, that’s you?” proper as [her coworker] was pulling up in a truck to get her. I instructed her, “You’re going to have to attend. I acquired to get your info earlier than you permit.”
Left, Moses holding Armour’s great-niece in Slidell. Proper, Armour’s household and associates gathered for a photograph on the party. Moses was warmly welcomed by her household when the couple reconnected.
It’s arduous to say precisely when this was as a result of we have been so glad, we weren’t being attentive to something. However we’ve been again collectively for over a yr and a half. We go to church on Sundays, and we go to associates’ church buildings. In the course of the week, I come [home] from work, I take a bathe, then me and Gloria sit in them two chairs on the market and take a look at the interstate. Though she will be fussy somewhat bit, she’s cool. We be laughing and taking part in with one another ‘til we go to mattress. Now we have all the pieces in the home we want, so that is our sanctuary. We are able to’t get damage right here.
We’re going to get married, [but] I don’t know precisely when. She’s set in her methods, and I am set in my methods. Ain’t no sense in us getting married and 6 months later, we getting divorced or one thing. We’re going to make this work till the top of time. We’re like Bonnie and Clyde. That’s my child there. That’s my all in all. God has been good to me and Gloria.
Camille Farrah Lenain is a French-Algerian documentary photographer who grew up in Paris. She relocated to New Orleans in 2013. Her images have been exhibited internationally, together with on the Ogden Museum of Southern Artwork, the Arab World Institute, Photoville and Les Rencontres d’Arles.
Carla Canning is an engagement journalist and affiliate editor at Jail Journalism Undertaking. She beforehand labored on Life Inside as The Marshall Undertaking’s Tow viewers engagement fellow. On the Craig Newmark Graduate Faculty of Journalism, she created an internet site information for individuals visiting family members incarcerated in New York State prisons.
