They say they were framed, and they are currently suing the City of Paris, former Edgar County State’s Attorney Michael McFatridge, and several former Illinois State Police troopers and officials for their roles in the wrongful convictions.

That case was the subject of Too Politically Sensitive, a 2009 book by former Illinois State Police investigator Michale Callahan, which details problems he found in the case against Steidl and Whitlock. Callahan was pulled off the case by his ISP superiors and told to stop investigating because it was “too politically sensitive.”

Meanwhile, a minor closer to Springfield has also been charged with murder in an unrelated case. An 11-year-old boy in Chandlerville, 30 miles northeast of Springfield, has been accused of murdering his mother, Brenda Schaad, 39. The minor, whose name has not been officially released, is charged with one count of first-degree murder.

Terry Payton’s case is scheduled for trial on Sept. 29. Mark Isaf has requested that Terry be tried as an adult, and the court has ordered that Terry see a psychiatrist to determine whether he is fit to stand trial. Terry has pleaded not guilty. He is being held at the Vermilion County Juvenile Detention Center in Danville.

RALLYING SUPPORTERS Maureen Lye, Terry’s grandmother from England, says Terry felt alone because of bullying at school and cries for help that fell on deaf ears.

“All this time, Terry suffered cruelty, but nobody really cared,” Lye says. “They ignored it. … This had been going on for years, that he was totally ignored. The neighbors took him in and fed him, but the actual authorities – the system – failed him.”

But Terry is alone no longer. His case has sparked an outpouring of support in Paris and beyond – from family, friends, neighbors and even perfect strangers.

Angel Jarvis, a 38-year-old Paris native who now lives in Universal, Ind., organized a fundraiser picnic for Terry on July 16. Though she has never met Terry, she says his story resonated with her because her mother died when Angel was still young, and she had gotten in trouble with the law often.

“I know how this kid feels, with no one to turn to,” Jarvis says. “I thought ‘who is going to help this kid?’ It grabbed my soul, and I’ve poured myself into it.”

Terry’s family hands out laminated buttons imploring the wearer to “Please help Terry,” while friends on Facebook have created three separate support groups, two of which are raising money for his defense and one of which has more than 700 supporters.

Teri’s Threads, a T-shirt shop in Paris, has sold more than 40 “Support Terry” T-shirts for the Support Terry Payton Foundation, set up by Terry’s friends. Of the $20 cost per T- shirt, $12 goes toward Terry’s defense. Supporters have even created a website, TerryPayton.org, to share Terry’s story, collect donations and post updates.

“We’re not stopping the foundation,” Jakob Shumaker says. “This train’s going and it has no brakes.”

Contact Patrick Yeagle at [email protected].