Off Duty | The Guardian Investigates Off Duty: The Prosecutors
Mar 18, 2026
Alex Villa, convicted in a 2019 trial and now fighting for a new trial, is at the center of this investigation. The story follows a missing technician, discovery of hidden Facebook and phone records, an FBI cell-phone map that challenges timelines, and revelations of edited police reports and email misuse. Courtroom battles, dropped charges for co-defendants, and continued efforts to reopen the case are highlighted.
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Raul Survived A Brain Eating Amoeba Then Disappeared
- Raul Palma Perez vanished while holding key PlayStation evidence that could exonerate Tyrone Clay and implicate the timeline for the murder of Officer Clifton Lewis.
- Raul survived a rare, usually fatal brain-eating amoeba, then gave a sworn statement saying he heard Tyrone's voice on the PlayStation before disappearing again.
Missing Digital Records Raised Disclosure Red Flags
- Jennifer Blagg discovered prosecutors and police were missing or not disclosing key digital records like Facebook and cell phone data that could prove innocence.
- She found gaps including missing text messages and absent Facebook records that by law should have been turned over to the defense.
Use Public Records And Subpoenas To Force Evidence Out
- Use public records and targeted subpoenas to obtain withheld forensic material when prosecutors claim they don't have it.
- Jennifer filed broad email requests and subpoenaed the FBI for the cell phone analysis that prosecutors had not provided.