Execution of Joe Arridy
Joe Arridy, despite having an IQ of 46, was executed in 1939 in Colorado, following a wrongful conviction for a crime he did not understand, let alone commit. His exoneration came posthumously in 2011. A man with the mind of a 6-year-old was sent to the gas chamber for a murder everyone knew he was innocent of.
Execution of George Stinney
George Stinney, the youngest person to be sentenced to death in the 20th-century United States, was executed in 1944, when he was only 14 years old. He was posthumously exonerated in 2014, 70 years after his execution. Whether he's guilty or not, you're not supposed to put a 14-year-old in the electric chair.
Conviction of Julie Rea Harper
Julie Rea Harper, a mother from Illinois, was wrongly convicted for the murder of her son in 2002. Following an appeal and the support of the Innocence Project, she was acquitted in 2006. Wrongfully convicted of killing her son. When it was revealed to be Tommy Lynn Sells, they must've felt like idiots.
Execution of Timothy Evans
Timothy Evans from the UK was wrongfully executed in 1950 for two murders committed by his neighbor, John Christie. It was only following Christie's exposure as a serial killer in 1953 that Evans' innocence became clear, resulting in his posthumous pardon in 1966. His wife was killed by his neighbor, John Christie, and he paid for it.
Conviction of Scott Hornoff
Scott Hornoff, a former Rhode Island police officer, was wrongly convicted in 1996 for a murder he did not commit. After spending more than six years in prison, the real perpetrator confessed to the crime, leading to Hornoff's release and exoneration. Scott Hornoff was exonerated when the real killer confessed out of guilt.
Conviction of The West Memphis Three
The West Memphis Three, comprised of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, were wrongfully convicted as teenagers in 1994 for a triple murder in Arkansas. They were released in 2011 under an Alford plea, after new DNA evidence surfaced. The officer who lost the Bojangles evidence should be fired. It was bad enough that the police never bothered to come and collect the Bojangles blood sample until the day after it was reported. A black male was reported bleeding in the ladies' bathroom, covered in blood and mud, and appeared to be mentally disoriented, not even a mile from the crime scene. Come on! And the police never bothered to come and get the blood samples until the next day. I wonder if anybody lost their jobs over this. I believe it was Mr. Bojangles.
1. Why would he be covered in blood? Why would he be covered in mud? It's a bit coincidental considering the bodies were found in a muddy creek.
2. If Bojangles is innocent, why has he never come forward so he could be eliminated as a suspect and help cooperate with the investigation?
Conviction of Bill Macumber
Bill Macumber, an Arizona man, was wrongfully convicted for a double murder in 1975. He spent almost four decades in prison until new evidence led to his release in 2012. Bill Macumber was framed for the crime by his wife.
Conviction of Michael Toney
Michael Toney was wrongly convicted in 1999 for a 1985 bombing in Texas that killed three people. After spending a decade on death row, his conviction was overturned in 2008 due to prosecutorial misconduct. Tragically, he died in a car accident just a year after his release. Michael Toney tragically died just one month after being exonerated.
Conviction of Ray Krone
Ray Krone, an Arizona resident, was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in 1992 for a murder he didn't commit. After DNA testing in 2002 proved his innocence, he became the 100th American exonerated and released from death row. Some people still believe Ray Krone is the Snaggletooth Killer, even though he was wrongfully convicted.
Release of Jimmy Lee Smith
Jimmy Lee Smith, one of the two "Onion Field" killers in California, was wrongly released in 1982 due to a clerical error, despite a life sentence. He returned to crime upon release, underscoring an unfortunate administrative oversight in the justice system. Cop-killer Jimmy Lee Smith was initially released after serving only 19 years, but he continued to commit crimes and was in and out of jail for the next 25 years.
One of the infamous "Onion Field" killers and a career criminal before and after the murders. He admitted that he shot a cop in cold blood while the cop was tied up and begging for his life.
This is the famous "Onion Field" killing. The movie was pretty spot-on about this vicious killer, who was later released to roam among you.
The Newcomers
? Police Corruption, Cover Up and Smearing the Dead of Hillsborough Disaster
The Hillsborough disaster in 1989, where 96 Liverpool football fans lost their lives, became a case of gross miscarriage of justice when South Yorkshire Police covered up their failings and falsely blamed the victims. The truth about the authorities' failures and subsequent smear campaign against the victims only came to light years later, marking a notorious episode of institutional corruption and injustice.
? Conviction of Damon Thibodeaux
Damon Thibodeaux, an innocent man from Louisiana, was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in 1997 for a murder and rape he did not commit. After spending 15 years on death row, he was exonerated and released in 2012 following a DNA test that proved his innocence.
The Contenders
Conviction of Josh Kezer
Josh Kezer was wrongfully convicted in 1994 for a murder in Missouri. After spending 16 years in prison, he was exonerated and released in 2009 due to new evidence that proved his innocence. Convicted with no evidence against him, but exonerated after almost 20 years in prison.
Release of Sagon Penn
Sagon Penn, a man of color from San Diego, was wrongly acquitted and released in 1987 for killing a police officer, despite his confession to the crime. His release, marked by racial tension and controversy. It was proven that the cop used a racial slur during an interrogation, so it was supposedly justified that Sagon Penn killed that cop. He also shot his partner, making him a quadriplegic, and shot a female civilian "ride-along" who was over 100 feet away, screaming, and trying to escape.
Infamous admitted San Diego cop-killer, also ran after and shot a civilian in an attempt to silence witnesses.
Conviction of Steven Truscott
Steven Truscott, at the age of 14, was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in Canada for a murder in 1959. His sentence was commuted to life imprisonment and, decades later, in 2007, he was declared not guilty. Wrongfully convicted of murdering his classmate in 1959, he nearly received the death penalty. He was not acquitted until 2007!
Release of Karla Homolka
Karla Homolka, convicted in Canada for her role in the murders committed by her and her husband, Paul Bernardo, was controversially released in 2005 after serving only 12 years in prison. Her early release, due to a plea bargain later termed the "deal with the devil," stands as a disconcerting event in the justice system.
Conviction of Brian Banks
Brian Banks, a promising high school football player, was wrongfully convicted of kidnapping and rape in 2002. After spending five years in prison and five on parole, his conviction was overturned in 2012 when his accuser admitted to fabricating the story. Brian Banks served 10 years for the supposed rape of a 15-year-old girl on a school campus. The girl later admitted she made up the entire story so her mother could sue the school for $1 million. The money is long gone, and the woman is not being prosecuted.
Conviction of Clarence Elkins
Clarence Elkins was falsely convicted for rape and murder in Ohio in 1989. He spent more than 15 years in prison before DNA evidence proved his innocence and led to his release in 2005.
Conviction of Edward Lee Elmore
Edward Lee Elmore, an intellectually disabled man, was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death in 1982 for a murder in South Carolina. He was released in 2012, after spending three decades on death row.
Conviction of Joe D'Ambrosio
Joe D'Ambrosio was wrongfully convicted of murder in Ohio in 1989 and spent 21 years on death row. After evidence of his innocence surfaced, he was exonerated and released in 2010.
Conviction of Tyler Edmonds
Tyler Edmonds, a 13-year-old from Mississippi, was wrongfully convicted for murder in 2004 based on a controversial "co-conspirator confession" theory. His conviction was overturned in 2007, and he was acquitted in a retrial.
Interrogation and Trial of Michael Crowe
Michael Crowe, a 14-year-old boy, was wrongly interrogated and tried for the murder of his sister in California in 1998. The case was dropped when a known transient was linked to the crime through DNA evidence.
Release of O.J. Simpson
O.J. Simpson, a prominent former NFL player, was acquitted in 1995 for the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman. Despite compelling evidence suggesting his guilt, his controversial release stands as a significant moment of perceived judicial failure.
Conviction of Bruce Lisker
Bruce Lisker was wrongfully convicted in 1985 for the murder of his mother in Los Angeles. After spending 26 years in prison, he was released in 2009 when evidence emerged proving his innocence.