door but i love her anyway ♪ ♪ miss jackson miss jackson miss i love her anyway ♪ ♪ let me say it one more time ♪ hey ay ay ay ♪ where will i be waking up tomorrow morning ♪ ♪ out the back door but i love her anyway ♪ ♪ hey-ay-ay-ay-ay i love her anyway hey-ay-ay-ay-ay ♪ ♪ out the back door but i love her anyway ♪ ♪ miss jackson miss jackson miss jackson are you nasty ♪ are you nasty ♪ ♪ miss jackson miss jackson miss jackson are you nasty ♪ i love her anyway ♪ ♪ oh oh oh where will you be waking up tomorrow morning ♪ ♪ oh oh oh out the back door but

i love her anyway ♪ ♪ climbing out the back door no one's going to find you miss jackson ♪ ♪ i love her anyway ♪ are you nasty are you nasty ♪ are you nasty are you nasty ♪ i love her anyway ♪ oh-oh-oh-oh where will you be waking up tomorrow morning ♪ ♪ out the back door but i love her anyway [ cheers and applause ]

tonight on "nightline" -- ultimate betr tonight on "nightline" -- ultimate betrayal. a 19-year-old college student pulled over by police not for dui but a brutal murder he says he knew nothing about. >> what the hell is going on? >> accused by his own friend. now years later that friend admits he lied. so why is ryan ferguson still behind bars? from rags to riches. last year he was the hottest male model in the world. this year he's the highest paid among the men. but the fashion throne belongs to the queens. get away from me! >> trick or treat. advertising is going undercover with elaborate viral video pranks that blur fact and fiction on what appear to be unsuspecting victims.

>> announcer: keep it right here, america, "nightline" is back in just 60 seconds. >> announcer: keep it

good evening. thank you for joining us. imagine a 19-year-old college student. police follow you home from school asking questions not about something that happened on scam pus b campus but a 2-year-old murder you know nothing about. that's what ferguson said happened, and he is serving a 40 year sentence. and it was his friend pointing the finger at him. tonight, ryan opens up about his epic fight for freedom for our series "crime & punishment" 2-year-old ryan ferguson spend almost all of his 20s in a

maximum security prison. >> hey, ryan. >> hi. >> reporter: for a brutal murder he and now many others insist he didn't commit. >> it is hard to have much hope at this point in the justice system based on what they have done. >> reporter: today he believes he could be days away from the phone call that could finally free him. >> these judges don't decide to do what i, i think is obvious, what i think is the right thing. you know i might not ever have a chance to get my life back again. >> reporter: as we will find out there is not a shred of physical evidence linking him to the crime and as of last year, not a single witness to implicate him. his incredible saga started nine years ago. >> i was getting an education. i was moving forward in life. and there was nothing but -- open road. >> reporter: a former eagle scout, a popular kid. an extremely close with his family growing up in columbia, missouri. >> this is one of the times when he was leaving. giving bill a hug there. even when he got into his

teenage years, he would be with a group of friend and still come over and give us a big hug. >> reporter: leaving class one day he was suddenly pulled over by police. >> i live a mile away from the school. there were these guys who were tailing me. >> reporter: he was stunned to hear they were accusing him of a vicious murder. it occurred two years earlier on halloween night. the victim, beloved sports journalist and father of two, ken heitholt bludgeoned and strangled in the parking lot of columbia daily tribune where he worked. >> obviously prove i have nothing to do with that. questioned me for an hour. i go back. it actually was a relief. >> reporter: that relief faded fast. ferguson was questioned for hours. >> what the hell is going on? >> reporter: and never wavered in his insistence he had nothing to do with the murder. >> i wasn't there. i didn't do anything. >> reporter: why was he arrested at all? because hours earlier, in an interrogation room down the hall, this man, a classmate of

ryan's told police a very different story. saying he and ryan were respo e responsible for that unsolved crime. >> whose idea was it? >> ryan's idea. >> reporter: they had been out drinking that halloween night in 2001 when the victim was killed. >> we had a few drinks, hung out. when the bar closed i took ericson home. and i was pretty much the night. any other halloween. >> reporter: years later ericson who had a history of substance abuse had started telling people including ryan that he had a dream that he had been at the crime scene the night of the murder. >> he is clearly inebriated, if i know about him having anything to dupe wio with the murder. i don't know anything abut thou that, mann't i know. i know i took you home. you saying that is strange and freaking me out. rancheros wh >> reporter: when he was

interrogated. ericson seemed confused to say the least. didn't seem to know how the murder occurred. >> yeah. >> but you don't know what it was? >> yeah. >> reporter: when heap w was brt to the scene where it happened. >> does this look familiar to you? >> i don't remember what happened. >> or what the murder weapon had been. >> thing it was a shirt. >> i know it was not a shirt. >> bungee cord. >> we know his belt was ripped off his pants he was strangled with his belt. no. no, i don't remember that at all. >> reporter: the detectives got aggressive. ericson eventually claimed he and ryan ferguson had run out of drinking money and decided to rob someone. >> you belter start thitter sta very clearly. it is you that is on this chopping block. i don't want to hear -- "awful a sudden i think i maybe

fabricated all this." ryan's dad, bill ferguson returned to the crime scene day after day to try to find any evidence to clear his son. including inconsistencies in ericson's account. one of the most important points has been that charles ericson told some different stories about what happened. his first account was what? >> his first account was he and ryan allegedly ran this way. down the alley. >> the problem its there were bloody footprints found going the other way. >> correct. but he didn't know that. >> the state calls charles ericson. >> reporter: at the trial, ericson somehow knew all of these details that alluded him during the interrogation. and was the star witness against ryan ferguson. >> he was down here. he had a belt and he had his, his foot on his back, the victim's back. and he was pulling up on the belt. like this.

>> reporter: that detailed k ee account was supported by the testimony of the janitor, jesse trump. who identified ferguson as one of two men he saw in the parking lot immediately after the murder. >> would you point to the individual or individuals, please? >> yes. >> ericson and trump were the case against ferguson. because after all, the dna found at the scene, footprints, and fingerprints, none of it matched ryan ferguson. but it was enough for a jury to convict. >> we the jury find that defendant, ryan william ferguson guilty of murder in the second degree. >> reporter: but four years after that 2005 conviction, something remarkable happened. that seemed to change everything. ericson who pled guilty in exchange for a 25-year sentence reached out to ryan. >> mr. ericson. >> kathleen zellner, an attorney

who won many wrongful conviction cases took the case pro bono. >> ryan received a letter from charles ericson. saying charles ericson's wanted ryan's attorneys to scum mecome with him. >> reporter: with the camera rolling, ericson read a statement admitting he had not been truthful in his testimony against ryan. >> things happened much differently than i previously stated. i regret now that i put an innocent man through that. he didn't deserve it. >> reporter: ryan got a new court hearing. in april ericson tested my he learned about ryan ferguson during the trial. >> man, i lied to everybody. >> would you state your full name for the record. >> jerry dwight trump. >> reporter: then the janitor, the only other eyewitness to implicate ryan took the stand and admit hemitted he lied at t trial. a convicted sex offend teer.

>> i would look to haike to hav forgiveness from ryan. and his family. >> reporter: at that point, do you think to yourself -- >> we've got to win. he has the got to be released. >> absolutely. we were almost delirious. >> reporter: it didn't happen. >> it did not happen. >> reporter: the judge did not believe the recent account, and that there wasn't reliable new evidence to overturn the conviction. >> there is no case ein the united states where a person has remained incarcerated when the only two witnesses against them have recanted. >> it is very frustrating. because we found so much that helps prove my innocence. i don't know anything else you can say or do at that point. >> reporter: ryan appealed judge green's ruling and finally, last month, during that argument, at least one of the three judges seemed to sympathize with ryan's

plight. >> is this case some what unique in fact i think, very unique in that mr. ericson's testimony was vigorously impeached at trial. >> reporter: hearing the appellate court argument are you more hopeful than ever? >> i am if i am. i really believe they will do the right thing. >> i believe these judges are going to correct this travesty now that they have the evidence that they needed to correct it. >> reporter: in the meantime, ryan has met some one special. >> i understand you have a girlfriend? >> i do have a girlfriend. we had a lot of the same thoughts. beliefs, men taelttalitiemental. we were fairly local. and meet up and talk and hang out. >> how often do you get to seep h -- see her? >> once a week. it is not ideal. >> reporter: hard as it is, ryan's parents try to stay positive for their son. >> i come out of there thinking it is so strange. every time even after all this

time, to have to leave without him. it's sad to think that he has lost all of this 20s. and it's hard to imagine how he is going to catch of on all of that. but i have no doubt that he will. >> reporter: seems almost the hardest part for you is in watching your family's pain? >> absolutely. they don't if these guys are beating me up every day, and taking my food or whatever. you know? and taking something far worse than food. >> reporter: now nearly ten years later, ryan is finally allowing himself to imagine a life outside the prison bars. when do you expect to be released from prison. >> before thanksgiving. >> reporter: out before thanksgiving. >> i can't believe i have to laugh saying that. yeah, i do. i do. pleasure meeting you guys, thank you. i just maintain positivity. hope that one day i will wake up and get a good phone call. >> we reached out to the da's office, former detectives on the case, and the victim's family to

no avail. the appeals court could rule an day now. >> next, why it doesn't pay as much to be a male model. ♪ [ engine revs, tires squeal ] [ male announcer ] since we began, mercedes-benz has pioneered many breakthroughs. ♪ breakthroughs in design... breakthroughs in safety... in engineering... and technology. and now our latest creation breaks one more barrier. introducing the cla. starting at $29,900. ♪ starting at $29,900. if yand you're talking toevere rheuyour rheumatologistike me, about trying or adding a biologic. this is humira, adalimumab. this is humira working to help relieve my pain. this is humira helping me through the twists and turns. this is humira helping to protect my joints

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in most professions men still out earn women for the same work. in this country women get paid on average 77 cents to the dollar. there are rare exceptions where it is the men trying to close the financial gender gap. for male models the ladies soups

model salaries are as unatta unattainable as the the striking good looks are for the rest of us, but why? here's abc's amy robach. >> reporter: they command the fashion run ways of milan and london. and their smoldering good looks heat up ads selling everything from fashion to fragrances. but being a male model in an industry where female models lead the way has the its unique challenges. >> you are an industry where women get paid more. david gandy perhaps the best known and most successful male model in the world. set apart by his manly physique, rocketing to icon status with an eyepopping dolce gabana ad. >> i have a love of the picture, changed my life and changed the industry. >> reporter: that success pales to the likes of gisele, miranda, and kate. >> they get paid incredible money, coverage.

people know their names. >> reporter: and forbes.com examined how much the top male models make compared to the top female models. number one on the men any list, earned $1.5 million in the last year. not bad. but gisele bundchen raked in $42 million. the disparity continues down the ranks. >> though on average, male models make around $200,000 to $5,0 $$500,000 a year. for females $2 million to $5 million. >> definitely different. females do get paid quite a bit more. >> reporter: seven years ago, he was discovered thanks to his myspace page. his career took off. he has been for vogue, hugo boss and in a madonna music video. ♪ this feeling can't be beat >> reporter: ranked as the

world's top model. even with all of that. he doesn't begrudge success of female counterparts. >> i don't have to wear high heels and buy key netikinis. his people wouldn't deny or confirm his earnings. but with his fresh face and versatile appeal is clearly at the top of his game. >> i am very happy with my career. i am not going to be complaining abut not making $42 million. at the end of the day i am very, very blessed with what i do have. >> reporter: he also points out there is a reason female models lead the way. >> i definitely feel women go shopping more often, advertising is based toward, it's female driven. >> disparity comes from the general idea that well women are, they buy twice as much as men do. there is a lower return on investment when it is a male model in the campaign. >> reporter: for those male models, attaining supermodel status has been no cakewalk.

are male models misunderstood? >> yes, i think the fashion industry, and all models are probably misunderstood. there are many cliches, many stereotypical views of models. the male models are very easy targets. >> reporter: a target that can be summed up in one word. >> zoolander. the famous zoolander. ♪ ♪ zoolander ♪ >> reporter: yes, that zoolander. >> i guess the look i'm best known for is blue steel. starring ben stiller. >> ben stiller killed us in that. i scant help but love the movie. >> reporter: gandy has the helped change perception of male models. >> buck the trends. and you need to be skinny. i'm not a skinny guy. >> kind of created that really manly, masculine image for himself. that's what he is known for. >> reporter: that something different is just of what it takes for a male model to stand

out. it remains to be seen if male models will ever close the wide gap with their female counterparts. >> they deserve it. as i said they have a huge percentage share in the market. rancheros go good for you, gisele. you are beautiful. keep doing what you are doing. >> reporter: for "nightline," amy robach in new york. >> got to love that blue steel stare. next, elaborate pranks all the rage from advertise schemes. what about the victims? are they real?

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tonight in feed frenzy all about the art of the prank. a popular viral video shows a woman in the coffee shop becoming enraged. >> oh, my god! >> after the guy next to her appears to spill a hot beverage on her laptop. then does what any angry person with teleki netic powers would do. unleashes her wrath. >> ah! >> alas an elaborate prank in the name of "carrie" the guy on the wall, table, all special effects. then there is this one from last month. seemingly unsuspecting potential employee gone into an interview. and in the window, they witness what apares to be nothing short of armageddon. >> ah! >> the lights go out. the end of days upon them. but then it is revealed the window was a television after all. seems like a cruel way to make the case for hdtv.