The evolution of Erickson's confessions

In a 2009 deposition of Erickson conducted without his attorney present, Erickson recants his earlier confession and testimony and now claims that he acted alone and that his co-defendant was in no way involved in the murder of Heitholt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_RMinr-wrE

"Zellner briefly represented Erickson between 2010 and 2011, but dropped him as a client to avoid the possibility of a conflict of interest because she was also representing Ferguson at the time. Zellner did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday."

"She didn't represent Erickson until 2010, after he recanted his trial testimony and said he lied on the stand. He testified that Ferguson was with him on the night of the murder, but that his friend did not assist him in the slaying.

If Cole County Judge Daniel Green decides to accept a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Ferguson by Zellner in February, a new evidentiary hearing could be granted.

Zellner made the decision to stop representing Erickson in order to avoid the possibility of a future conflict of interest, she said Friday.

It was a move Zellner and Erickson always planned to make; and though there is currently no conflict of interest, she said,

Zellner said she decided to go ahead with the plan in light of the tentative hearing on June 29, in order to avoid future problems.

“There are no hard feelings,” Zellner said. “This is what we had planned all along.”

Zellner said it must be clear that she did not begin representing Erickson until six months after his recantation in 2010."

"At a 2012 hearing, Erickson said he lied . . . in 2009 to help Ferguson's appeal."

Bellamy questioned Erickson's credibility as well as the reasons he testified the way he did and later recanted. In his questioning, Bellamy used examples of what he described as Erickson's worries, remorse or personal knowledge of the crime. Erickson replied that he didn't remember the incidents in question or that he had "lied through his teeth."

"I'm good at making stuff up," Erickson said. "I'm creative. I can lie. I can speak well."

Bellamy referred to letters exchanged between Erickson and Heitholt's daughter, Kali Heitholt, while Erickson was in prison. In the letters, Erickson wrote that he knew nothing could ever make up for what he had done but that he would try to be a good person