A man wrongfully imprisoned for 32 years, including a decade on death row, is suing former law enforcement officials in Maryland, alleging misconduct and withholding evidence that led to his wrongful conviction for double murders in 1981. He was pardoned and compensated after DNA evidence proved his innocence, highlighting issues of prosecutorial misconduct and flawed forensic science.
Former congressional candidate and pro wrestler Daniel Rodimer surrendered to police in Nevada after a warrant was issued for his arrest in the murder of Chris Tapp, who was wrongly imprisoned for a murder he did not commit. Tapp died from a head injury at a Las Vegas hotel, and Rodimer is charged with open murder. The incident allegedly stemmed from an altercation where Rodimer became upset after Tapp offered his stepdaughter cocaine. Rodimer's lawyers stated that he intends to contest the allegations, while Tapp's wrongful imprisonment for the 1996 murder of Angie Dodge was vacated in 2019.
Robert DuBoise, wrongfully imprisoned for nearly four decades for a rape and murder he did not commit, is set to receive $14m in compensation from Tampa's city council. DNA testing implicated two other men in the crime, and the forensic evidence that led to DuBoise's conviction was discredited. DuBoise, who was aided by the Innocence Project, sued the city government and police investigators, leading to the settlement. He hopes his case will make it easier for others wrongfully convicted to achieve justice, and plans to move on from the legal ordeal that dominated much of his life.
Robert DuBoise, who spent 37 years in prison for a wrongful conviction in the 1983 rape and murder of a woman in Tampa, Florida, will receive a $14 million settlement from the City of Tampa. He was initially sentenced to death based on flawed evidence, but was freed in 2020 after new DNA evidence exonerated him and implicated two other men. DuBoise filed a federal lawsuit against the city and others, and the settlement, approved by the Tampa City Council, is to be paid in three installments over three years. DuBoise expressed gratitude and hoped his case would serve as an example for others wrongfully convicted.
Ronnie Long, who served nearly 44 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, will receive a $25 million settlement, the largest in North Carolina history, after his conviction was overturned in 2020. The city of Concord agreed to pay Long $22 million and issued a public apology for the grave injustice caused by the Concord Police Department and the city. Long also received $3 million from the State Bureau of Investigation, bringing his total compensation to $25 million.
Glynn Simmons, who spent 48 years in prison for a murder he always denied committing, has been formally declared innocent by an Oklahoma state judge. Simmons's murder conviction was dismissed in July due to withheld evidence, and state prosecutors decided not to retry him. The ruling makes Simmons eligible for compensation and facilitates a potential federal lawsuit. Simmons, who is battling cancer, is currently supported by donations. He was the longest incarcerated person in the US to be exonerated.
Glynn Simmons, an Oklahoma man who served the longest wrongful imprisonment in U.S. history, has been declared innocent of a murder he has always maintained he did not commit. After spending over 48 years in prison, Simmons was released earlier this year when it was determined that prosecutors had violated his right to a fair trial. Oklahoma County District Court Judge Amy Palumbo ruled in favor of Simmons, granting his request for a declaration of "actual innocence." Simmons is now eligible for compensation from the state, but it could be years before he receives any funds. His case highlights the need for justice reform and the importance of listening to the voices of marginalized communities.
Two cousins in Illinois, James Soto and David Ayala, have been released after spending 42 years wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. They were convicted in 1981 for the deaths of two Chicago teenagers and served the longest wrongful conviction sentence in state history. This is the latest in a series of high-profile exonerations this week, including the release of Brian Beals in Cook County, Illinois, and the exoneration of two men in California. Soto, who earned a bachelor's degree while incarcerated, plans to attend law school and help others who have been wrongfully convicted.
Kathleen Folbigg, an Australian woman who was imprisoned for 20 years for the deaths of her four children, had her convictions overturned by New South Wales state. Folbigg, who was pardoned in June, plans to seek substantial compensation for her wrongful imprisonment. The case, which relied on circumstantial evidence, sparked controversy among scientists and statisticians, some of whom campaigned for Folbigg's release. A second inquiry in 2022 found new evidence suggesting a genetic mutation may have caused the deaths of two of the children.
The convictions against Kathleen Folbigg, an Australian woman who spent 20 years in prison for the deaths of her four children, have been quashed by a top Australian court. Folbigg was released from prison in June after an inquiry found "reasonable doubt" regarding her responsibility for the deaths. The court found that the prosecution had "cherry-picked" entries from her diary to secure the conviction. Doubts about her guilt grew as new scientific evidence emerged, including rare genetic mutations in the DNA of Folbigg and her daughters. The overturning of her convictions opens the possibility for Folbigg to seek compensation for her wrongful imprisonment.
Republican Congressman Chris Smith is demanding answers from Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding the wrongful imprisonment of Catholic priest Rolando Álvarez Lagos in Nicaragua. Álvarez, who was sentenced to over 26 years in prison for alleged treason, refused to be exiled to the United States and remains detained by the Ortega-Murillo regime. Smith is seeking information on the Biden administration's efforts to secure Álvarez's release and is calling for action to address the overall state of religious freedom in Nicaragua. The congressman also raised questions about the State Department's involvement and economic ties with Nicaragua in light of human rights abuses.
A man in Germany who served 13 years in prison for the murder of an elderly woman has been acquitted in a retrial after the court determined that the woman's death was an accident. Manfred Genditzki, who had always maintained his innocence, was initially convicted in 2010 and again in 2012. After years of fighting to reopen the case, he was released last August. The court ruled that the woman likely fell into a bathtub and drowned while trying to wash laundry or take a foot bath. Genditzki is now entitled to compensation for his wrongful imprisonment.
