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. 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 girl who was searching of her window throughout the crime. She stated 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 dying sentence by a single vote.
Moses tried to enchantment 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 data 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 have been dropped a month later. He received out of jail at age 68, having served 29 years, and is at the moment pursuing compensation for his wrongful conviction. On this interview, edited for readability and size, the divorced father of three remembers how he and Armour first related, how they reunited, and why, as she says, “there’s by no means a boring second” once 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 facility work within the refinery. I recall myself being slightly 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 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 time day. [Laughs.] I attempted to smuggle her up, and she or he wasn’t going for it. I stated to myself, “Properly, I assume I received to place in slightly 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 prices on me. The police simply didn’t do a radical investigation. I feel they have been simply clearing the books again then. It was like, We’re simply going to place you over there, and also you battle your manner 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 offer me some sleeping capsules after I received convicted. However then I began pondering. I took stock of myself whereas I used to be in jail. I wanted to search out God. After I [did], it made me humble.
What most individuals don’t perceive about life is lonesomeness is nice to your soul, so you will discover 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 battle 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 need to be preventing the system, not him.”
Armour on the way in which 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 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 desirous 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 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 other people received displaced from the hurricanes.
After I lastly received out of jail, I used to be dwelling throughout the river in [a transitional] home [owned by Innocence Project New Orleans]. I might have taken Uber, however I needed to trip the bus. I assumed possibly I might acknowledge a few of the individuals 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. Properly, 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 identify 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 data 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 birthday celebration. 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 blissful, we weren’t listening to something. However we’ve been again collectively for over a 12 months 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. Regardless that she may be fussy slightly bit, she’s cool. We be laughing and taking part in with one another ‘til we go to mattress. Now we have every little thing in the home we want, so that is our sanctuary. We are able to’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 an internet site information for individuals visiting family members incarcerated in New York State prisons.
Story has been up to date since publication to appropriate the timeframe of Armour’s and Moses’ reunion.
