Police also knew he had a history as a juvenile sex offender. The first-degree murder and criminal sexual conduct charges lodged against him seemed rock solid. The only problem was, Michael Gayles wasn't J'nai Glasker's killer. No one knows how many false confessions have been uncovered nationally, but researchers say they are more common than people realize. Their inability to focus on long-term consequences gets them in trouble.
Police have a different perspective.
Like Gayles, Kaled and Kuecken are adults under Michigan law. But no one is claiming that they have learning disabilities or low intelligence. Charles Schumacher, who coordinated the task force investigating Mello's slaying. Anyone who listened to their testimony can see that they're very literate, very articulate and they understand the consequences of their actions. But lawyers for Kaled and Kuecken say they are immature enough to have thought they could go home if they confessed.