Help Marine Veteran Cpl. Chase Calverley Continue His Fight for Justice
At 17 years old, Chase Calverley joined the United States Marine Corps. At 20, he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, during one of the deadliest periods of the war and a time marked by some of the highest casualty rates of the entire conflict. During his service, Chase was wounded and later received the Purple Heart. Like many veterans, he returned home carrying the lasting effects of war, including PTSD and traumatic brain injuries sustained during his time overseas.
Today, Chase is serving a 40-year prison sentence in Missouri.
Chase has now spent more than six years incarcerated between county jail and the Missouri Department of Corrections. He spent nearly five years in county jail awaiting trial before being convicted in November 2024.
This case involved multiple co-defendants, many of whom accepted plea agreements years before trial. Chase maintained his innocence and chose to fight his case in court because he believed the truth would prevail.
Facing the possibility of the death penalty, Chase waived his right to a jury trial and elected to have his case heard by a judge instead. The trial lasted five days before the court found him guilty and imposed a 40-year sentence.
At trial, even the admitted shooter testified that Chase did not want to be involved. He told the court that Chase repeatedly pleaded with him to stop, think about what he was doing, and turn back before it was too late. According to that testimony, Chase did not want any part of what was happening and tried to de-escalate the situation.
Although Chase was not accused of being the shooter, he received the same 40-year sentence as the man who admitted pulling the trigger.
The case also relied heavily on testimony from witnesses whose accounts changed over time, raising serious questions that continue to be examined. At the same time, no physical evidence was presented linking Chase to the murder itself.
The fight is not over.
Chase is now pursuing post-conviction relief, a process that requires experienced legal representation, expert consultation, court filings, and extensive review of thousands of pages of transcripts and records. Every dollar raised will go toward legal expenses associated with continuing the fight for justice and ensuring that every issue in this case receives the review it deserves.
This is more than a legal case. It is a fight for a veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, a son, a brother, a friend, and a future that is still worth fighting for.
Even while incarcerated, Chase has continued to put others before himself. When his cellmate suffered a life-threatening overdose during the night, Chase performed CPR repeatedly while waiting for emergency medical staff to arrive. Because of Chase’s actions, that man is alive today.
He has also earned multiple job promotions within the facility, demonstrating the same work ethic, leadership, and commitment to others that defined his military service.
He fought for our freedom. Now it’s our turn to repay the favor.
If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing Chase’s story. Every share helps bring awareness to a case that still has many unanswered questions.
Thank you for taking the time to read Chase’s story and for supporting the continued pursuit of justice.
