“I’m used to being locked down,” he said. “I was like, ‘I’m not really going to be able to get on this race, right?” Ferguson then Googled the casting director and realized he was real.Īs for the temporary coronavirus lockdown, Ferguson told host Phil Keoghan it didn’t phase him. “I thought it was a joke,” Ferguson said, according to CBS News. As for The Amazing Race, a casting director contacted him via Instagram about joining. Erickson gave the police Ferguson’s name, and it spiraled from there.

Two years later, the friend, Chuck Erickson, said he had “dreams” of the crime. Heitholt was reportedly bludgeoned and strangled, and at the time, Ferguson was down the street at a bar he snuck into with a friend at 17 years old. He was convicted of the crime and spent 10 years in prison - but the conviction was later overturned. In 2005, Ferguson went on trial over the murder of newspaper sports editor Kent Heitholt, CBS New reports. But Ferguson had to overcome major adversity to get where he is today.

Ryan Ferguson and Dusty Harris are clear frontrunners amongst the rest of The Amazing Race Season 33 cast. Ryan Ferguson joined ‘The Amazing Race’ Season 33 cast after spending 10 years in prison Ryan Ferguson and Dusty Harris | Screengrab/CBS And he explained why he feels so close to his best friend, Harris, now. Ferguson shared his upsetting backstory that involved a false murder allegation and prison time. Coronavirus (COVID-19) disrupted the race after the first few legs, but Ryan Ferguson and Dusty Harris decided to return. CBS’ The Amazing Race Season 33 is a much different race than fans have seen in the past.

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