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 best way 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 had been fatally shot throughout a theft. Virtually six months later, a man with critical psychological sickness named Frederick Stamps referred to as the police and blamed Moses.
The state constructed its case on Stamps’ testimony and that of a lady who was searching of her window throughout the crime. She stated she’d heard the robber’s voice however couldn’t totally affirm that it belonged to Moses, whom she knew. She didn’t see the assailant’s face and even the capturing, and as a substitute described a determine who didn’t match Moses’ top 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 prevented a dying sentence by a single vote.
Moses tried to attraction his conviction, however was unsuccessful. He contacted Innocence Venture 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 referred to 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 resulting from what he described as a romantic rivalry.
Moses’ conviction was vacated on Could 25, 2023, and the costs in opposition to him had been dropped a month later. He received 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 linked, how they reunited, and why, as she says, “there’s by no means a uninteresting second” after they’re collectively.
Gloria was 25 once I met her. I used to be 27, driving Cadillacs and had lots cash as a result of I used to [do] manufacturing unit work within the refinery. I recall myself being somewhat quick as a result of most girls 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 had been simply in love. She all the time was open arms once 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 season day. [Laughs.] I attempted to smuggle her up, and she or he wasn’t going for it. I stated to myself, “Nicely, I assume I received 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 received me within the scenario 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 had been simply clearing the books again then. It was like, We’re simply going to place you over there, and also you battle your approach again out.
Moses had prayed to see Gloria once more whereas he was in jail. “I’d sit on my little bunk enjoying music, and I’d ask myself, “Who do I need 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 drugs after I received convicted. However then I began pondering. 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 sweet in your soul, so you could find your self. If I sat there and pitied myself, then I [couldn’t] assist myself. So I simply stood robust. I walked by the warfare saying, “I do know my God received my again.” I all the time saved my sanity and my morals and rules once I was in jail. I used to inform [the men], “You have to be preventing the system, not him.”
Armour on the best way to her niece’s birthday celebration in Slidell, Louisiana.
I had associates getting married up in jail, however I wasn’t doing it. That may be placing my household by the identical factor I used to be going by. They had been already in jail with me, worrying any time I didn’t name. Nonetheless, I ain’t by no means stopped eager to have someone’s love. I prayed for it.
She don’t consider 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 enjoying music, and I’d ask myself, Who do I need 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 other people received displaced from the hurricanes.
After I lastly received out of jail, I used to be residing throughout the river in [a transitional] home [owned by Innocence Project New Orleans]. I might have taken Uber, however I wished to experience the bus. I assumed perhaps I might acknowledge a number of the folks I’d grown up with. I used to catch the bus taking place Broad. I’d get to American Avenue and assume, My lady used to reside proper down the road. Nicely, God, will I ever stumble upon Gloria?
Then in the future on the bus cease, whereas I used to be speaking to 2 different folks, this girl comes and sits proper alongside me. I checked out her title tag, and it didn’t register. I saved speaking, then she stated, “That you just, Larry?”
I turned and stated, “Larry Moses!”
Then I stated, “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 received to get your info earlier than you allow.”
Left, Moses holding Armour’s great-niece in Slidell. Proper, Armour’s household and associates gathered for a photograph on the birthday celebration. Moses was warmly welcomed by her household when the couple reconnected.
It’s onerous to say precisely when this was as a result of we had been so completely happy, we weren’t listening 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 have a look at the interstate. Although she will be fussy somewhat bit, she’s cool. We be laughing and enjoying with one another ‘til we go to mattress. Now we have the whole lot in the home we want, so that is our sanctuary. We will’t get harm 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 Venture. She beforehand labored on Life Inside as The Marshall Venture’s Tow viewers engagement fellow. On the Craig Newmark Graduate College of Journalism, she created a web site information for folks visiting family members incarcerated in New York State prisons.
