In August 1936, two Colorado detectives found a young man walking alone around a rail yard. They arrested him for vagrancy and took him to meet with Sheriff George Caroll. This young man was Joe Arridy. He was 21 years old with an IQ of 46, and his intellectual ability was comparable to that of a six-year-old. After Joe Arridy met Sheriff George Caroll, his life would never be the same.
The story of Joe Arridy is a tragic story of injustice, lies, and abuse of power. This loveable, quiet, and shy young man was thrown into a world of rape, murder, court hearings, and executions. And he went through everything with a big smile on his face.
Resources
Joe Arridy - The Happiest Man Who Ever Lived on Death Row - Robert Perske