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Here’s what happened at the Innocence Project in August.
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Rosa Jimenez Is Exonerated of a Crime That Never Took Place After 20 Years
Rosa Jimenez was exonerated earlier this month after the Travis County District Attorney moved to dismiss a 2003 murder charge against her, based on testimony from leading pediatric airway experts who affirmed the death at the center of the case was a tragic accident and not murder. While Rosa has finally closed this chapter after two decades of trying to prove her innocence, she is taking on another battle. A decade into her wrongful incarceration, Rosa was diagnosed with kidney disease, which has since progressed to end-stage. Currently, she is being evaluated by Weill Cornell hospital for a kidney transplant and is hoping to find a living donor. Read more about Rosa’s 20-year fight for freedom and learn how you can support her in the
battle for her life.
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Who Is Marcellus Williams: Man Facing Execution in Missouri Despite DNA Evidence Supporting Innocence
Marcellus Williams has spent 24 years of his life on death row for a murder DNA evidence proves someone else committed. Last week, Marcellus filed a civil lawsuit against Missouri Gov. Mike Parson for dissolving the board of inquiry that had been investigating his innocence claim before it could produce a report and recommendation, and against Attorney General Andrew Bailey for moving to set an execution date after the governor had illegally dissolved the board. Gov. Parson’s rescission of the 2017 executive order that established the five-member board means that, although no new execution date has been set yet, Marcellus’ life remains at risk for a crime he did not commit. Learn about the five major things to know about Marcellus’
case and then spread the word on social media.
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Carlton Lewis Exonerated Following 31 Years of Wrongful Conviction for Second-degree Murder in Syracuse, NY
Earlier this month, Carlton Lewis was exonerated in Syracuse, New York, more than three decades after he was wrongly convicted and incarcerated for second-degree murder in 1992. An incentivized witness, a false confession, and hair microscopy — a problematic forensic technique — all contributed to his wrongful conviction. New DNA testing results, however, have excluded Carlton from the scene of the crime and confirmed his continued assertion of innocence. “I always believed in myself, I’ve always fought for the truth,” Carlton said. “I’ve known all along I’m innocent, but it feels good to finally have the court acknowledge it, to finally have no more lies hanging over my head. I can finally sleep.” Read the full story
here.
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Morton Johnson Has Spent More Than Half His Life in Prison for a Crime New DNA Evidence Shows He Didn’t Commit
Morton Johnson has spent over half his life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit — the murder of 70-year-old Henrietta Nickens in Chester, Pennsylvania. DNA evidence excluded Morton, who was 18 at the time of the crime, as the attacker before his trial even began. Yet 22 years later, he’s still fighting to overturn his conviction. The Innocence Project filed a motion to vacate his convictions for the 1997 crime last year after post-conviction DNA testing provided new evidence of his innocence. A hearing on new evidence happened recently. Now, the defense and prosecution have 60 days to submit arguments based on the evidence presented at the hearing. They are then given an additional 30 days to rebut the opposing side’s contentions. Please take a moment to read more about Morton’s continued fight to clear his name of a crime he did not commit.
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Exonerations Around the U.S.
Exoneration Project client Louis Robinson was exonerated on Aug. 10, 2023 after serving 27 years wrongfully incarcerated; New Jersey Innocence Project client Armond McCloud was exonerated on Aug. 24, 2023 after serving 38.5 years wrongfully incarcerated.
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