The Big Story

The Loneliest Man on Earth

Ray Sprigle, Pittsburgh Post

English · True Crime, Radio

In “The Loneliest Man on Earth,” reporter Ray Sprigle investigates the wrongful conviction of Paul Boggs, who was imprisoned for a robbery and killing he did not commit. Boggs had alibis, but witnesses were pressured to support the prosecution’s case. Sprigle and others pursued the truth for years, until testimony and a confession helped clear Boggs and secure his release.

The story follows the human cost of a failed justice system as well as the persistence of investigative reporting. Boggs’s former wife, fellow prisoners, and law officers all played a part in efforts to establish his innocence, while Sprigle’s reporting brought the case to public attention. The account also traces Boggs’s life after prison, including his military service.

The Big Story dramatizes newspaper reporting and the events behind a major story. This episode centers on a determined reporter, a long struggle for justice, and the consequences of a conviction that took years to overturn.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.