Hayes, Hal

First-time author Hal Hayes worked in the film and video industry for many years before transitioning to being a stay-at-home dad for his son. Every summer, he runs a video camp in Plano, Texas, to help kids with autism learn how to make movies.

The wrongful release of two convicted murderers in his home state of Texas in 2009 drove Hayes to research the case for himself and after thoroughly examining trial transcripts as well as police reports and interviews, he wrote the true crime book "Rush to Freedom" to share his troubling findings.