Joe is a 21-year-old college student at the University of Minnesota. He works as a bouncer at Molly's Pub and is determined to secure an education. He struggles with his familial responsibilities, specifically regarding his autistic brother and his alcoholic mother. He interviews a convicted murderer for an English assignment, leading to an independent investigation.

Carl is a 64-year-old Vietnam veteran living at a nursing home. He was paroled through a compassionate release program because he is dying of pancreatic cancer. He was convicted of a brutal murder thirty years prior and has spent his life in prison. He maintains a quiet demeanor and agrees to give Joe his account of the past.

Jeremy is Joe's 18-year-old autistic brother. He lives with their mother in Austin, Minnesota. He has a trusting nature and struggles to understand deceit. He relies on routine and requires attentive care, which his mother often fails to provide.

Kathy is Joe and Jeremy's mother. She resides in Austin, Minnesota, and struggles with severe alcoholism and mental health issues. She frequently neglects her responsibilities as a parent, leaving Jeremy unattended. She uses manipulative tactics to extract help and money from Joe.

Lila is Joe's next-door neighbor at his apartment complex. She is a fellow college student with a sharp intellect. She assists Joe with his English assignment, offering a skeptical perspective on his interview subject. She acts as a sounding board for Joe's theories regarding the old case.

Crystal is a 14-year-old girl who was murdered in 1980. Her burned remains were discovered in a neighbor's shed. She was a cheerleader who kept a diary, which becomes a key element in the modern-day investigation into her death.

Daniel is Crystal's stepbrother. He lived with his family next door to the accused killer at the time of the 1980 crime. He works at his father's car dealership and presents a confident, sometimes boastful demeanor.

Douglas is Crystal's stepfather and Daniel's father. He is a strict, deeply religious man who used biblical verses to maintain control over his household. He provided alibis during the original 1980 police investigation.

Danielle is Crystal's mother. She was married to Douglas at the time of her daughter's death. She lived in the house next door to the crime scene.

Bill is Joe and Jeremy's deceased grandfather. He provided stability for his daughter Kathy before he passed away in a boating accident when Joe was a child.

Virgil is a Vietnam War veteran who served in the same squad as the accused murderer. He offers an alternative perspective on his fellow soldier's character, describing actions from the war that contradict the official criminal profile.

Andy is Crystal's high school boyfriend at the time of her death. He works at an insurance agency in Golden Valley, Minnesota, and continues to have nightmares about the past.

Gibbs is a military squad leader during the Vietnam War. He commands a unit that includes younger, drafted soldiers. He exhibits brutal, violent behavior during his deployment.

An anonymous victim of violence during the Vietnam War. Her brief appearance in a soldier's memory serves as a crucial point of reference for understanding military conduct and personal trauma.

Max is a police detective. He is approached with new information regarding a thirty-year-old closed case. He is initially hesitant to divert his attention from active investigations.

Boady is a lawyer affiliated with the Innocence Project. He evaluates old criminal cases for potential wrongful convictions.

Larry is Kathy's current boyfriend. He spends time at casinos and bars with her, showing little regard for her parental responsibilities.

Mary is the director of the Hillview Manor nursing home. She oversees the care of paroled inmates placed in her facility.

Berthel is the chief public defender. He worked as a legal aide during the original 1980 murder trial and provides historical context for the proceedings.