SLIFF 2016 Interview: Bill Ferguson – Subject of the Documentary DREAM/KILLER

Tom Stockman: You’ve been touring with this documentary about your son.

Bill Ferguson: Yes the documentary is really about me and my and the things I did to help free my son.

TS: Has your son Ryan been touring with the documentary as well?

BF: He’s been to a couple of film festivals but not as many as I have. The film is available online. You can download it on iTunes.

TS: Your son served almost 10 years for a crime he did not commit to deserve all this time in Missouri?

BF: It was all in Missouri yes, but what people don’t realize is that while they say that he served eight years, it was really a total of 10. He spent over a year and a half in the county jail. Serving time in the county jail is far worse than even a maximum-security prison.

TS: Why is that?

BF: The conditions are much worse. The guards are paid less and are less professional. The food is worse. The privileges are minimal. For example, in the entire year and a half he was in there, he only went outside three times.

TS: That’s terrible. So, then he went to a penitentiary.

BF: That’s right, in Jefferson City.

TS: And you were living in Columbia Missouri, which isn’t too far. Did you go and visit your son as often as you could?

BF: Absolutely.

TS: Do you have other children?

BF: Yes, I have an older daughter. She’s been living in the Washington DC area. She would come and visit Ryan when she could.

TS: What was it like visiting your son in prison where he was serving time for a crime that you and so many others knew that he did not commit?

BF: It was shocking. During that year and a half, he was in the county jail though, we could only visit him for two hours once a week. In the penitentiary, we could see him three or four times a week, for up to four hours at a time. We could have face to face contact, with a hug before and after, whereas in the county jail, there was no contact allowed at all. You had to talk on the phone through glass. So, the penitentiary was a lot nicer than where he had been, but it was still shocking and appalling.

TS: I’ll bet. How would you describe your sons attitude about being there?

BF: Initially he was in a state of shock. He was very upset. But then he realized he had to adjust to his predicament and make the best of it. He started reading everything he could get his hands on. He increased his vocabulary and his understanding of history and really became a very good student. And we worked on his case together.

TS: What was your son like before all this trouble happened?

BF: He was an excellent kid. To give you an example, a typical teenager might see his parents at the mall or something and not want to be seen with them. If we would see him out in public with his friends, he would wave us over to him and give us a big hug. He was always like that. He was always upbeat and always positive, never got into any kind of trouble. He was an average student and a very good athlete, just an all-around good

TS: How did prison change Ryan?

BF: It made him become more appreciative of his freedom. He became more focused academically, and he started working out. He has an incredible physique now. His physique is so impressive that he’s written a book about that, A book he wrote while he was in prison that’s been published and has been very successful.

TS: Is the book about the crime or just about physical health?

BF: It’s about physical health, but in the environment of being in the prison system and what you have to do to be successful.

TS: Does he write about his case in the book?

BF: Ever so slightly. He talks about his relationships with the other prisoners and how he focused on spending much of his time in prison working out and educating himself. He knew he was going to get out and he wanted to prepare himself whenever that time came.

TS: Where does this criminal case stand now?

BF: Ryan’s sentence has been completely vacated. We’re approaching the third anniversary of him being out of prison.

TS: Where is Charles Erickson, who was also convicted of this murder?

BF: Unfortunately, Charles is still in prison but there’s really no evidence to hold him there. That’s just the way attorney generals operate all across the country. They do not want to release him.

TS: It’s a very interesting story. Whose idea was it to make this documentary?

BF: That was Andrew Jenks’ idea.

TS: How closely did you work with director Andrew Jenks on this project?

BF: Very closely. We worked with the 48 Hours TV show initially. They were the ones that really put us on the map. Dateline picked up the story as well, and other news outlets and media sources did too. Andrew Jenks had come across this and contacted us. By that time, we had a lot of experience with being filmed because we had been on three episodes of 48 Hours and three episodes of Dateline, so that’s a lot of exposure. Andrew is Ryan’s age and they got along perfectly, and I got along with him as well. They spent a lot of time with us and got to know us, whereas the networks worked on a tight schedule.

TS: Is there much footage from these networks stories incorporated into the documentary?

BF: There some, but not a lot.

TS: What do you think of the final film?

BF: I think it’s excellent. I think Andrew captured the essence of the story. There’s one part that’s in black-and-white that has animated drawings showing what prison is like. The artist that drew the animation for that portion really highlighted just how horrible being in a maximum security prison is.

TS: Is the crime re-created it all in the film?

BF: No.

TS: Has there been talk of a narrative movie being made about the story?

BF: Yes there has.

TS: Who would you like to see play you in the film?

BF: I have no idea. I haven’t given that much thought. We’ll leave that to the experts.

TS: You’ve been touring film fest with this film. Have you been happy with the questions that people are asking you at the Q and A’s?

BF: Yes, very happy. People always have good questions.

TS: What’s next?

BF: Ryan has just completed a television series called Unlocking the Truth. There are eight episodes. He also hopes to write a book. Our goal is to expose and enlighten the public on how the system actually works in terms of prisons and conspiracy, things that people are unaware of until they find themselves in that situation. Right now, we’re working on about six different murder cases where we believe that the accused is innocent.

TS: Is this becoming full-time job for you or are you still working a day job, or are you retired?

BF: No, I still have my day job. The more you know about this, and the know the more you know about prisons, the more you want to help, but you can’t let it consume you. There has to be a balance between our lives and helping people who are in prison. You have to be very conscious of your time.

TS: You and Ryan were able to go to the Super Bowl last year. What was that like?

BF: Oh my gosh, that was phenomenal. I never dreamed I’d ever go to the Super Bowl.  It’s so expensive. Ryan called me up one day and said “Hey Dad. Are you going to the Super Bowl this year?” I said no, and he said “How would you like to go? I’ve got tickets. They’re flying us down and putting us up. Everything is paid for!” So, that’s exactly what happened and it was a great game. Our sponsors were fantastic. It could not have gone any better. Just spending that kind of time with Ryan was tremendous.

TS: I’m glad. Best of luck with the film and congratulations on all you’ve done and the success you’ve had helping your son.

BF: Thank you