On February 3, we watched the documentary The Phantom, which delves into a landmark case in criminal justice history. The film centers on the 1983 murder of Wanda Lopez at a convenience store in the middle of the night. Witnesses described the assailant as a Hispanic man, leading the police to focus on Carlos DeLuna. Despite maintaining his innocence throughout his trial—insisting that another man, Carlos Hernandez, was the real culprit—this claim was not seriously investigated until long after DeLuna had been executed.

The documentary also featured interviews with several individuals connected to the case, offering diverse perspectives. One particularly striking moment was when Rene Rodriguez, the attorney representing Wanda Lopez’s family, lamented, “all these poor people, they were all getting found guilty, they were all going to death row, and nobody represented them.” His words highlighted the systemic failure to provide adequate legal defense for the underprivileged—a failure that left many vulnerable individuals without a voice. Rodriguez expressed deep regret as he recalled the case.