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Illinois' Exonerated Death Row
Prisoners |
The 13 men freed from Death Row since 1977
have
been exonerated for various reasons, including new DNA evidence and
recanted
testimony by prosecution witnesses. In five cases -- marked by an
asterisk
-- jailhouse-informant testimony was used to convict or condemn the
defendant.
Perry Cobb:
Acquitted by a judge
at his fifth
trial.
Initially convicted: 1979 Freed/exonerated: 1987.
Darby Tillis: Cobb's
co-defendant, he also was
acquitted at his fifth trial.
Initially convicted: 1979 Freed/exonerated: 1987.
*Joseph Burrows: Freed after two
prosecution
witnesses recanted their testimony.
Initially convicted: 1989 Freed/exonerated: 1994.
*Rolando Cruz: Acquitted by a
judge at his third
trial after a sheriff's lieutenant recanted his testimony.
Initially convicted: 1985 Freed/exonerated: 1995.
Alejandro Hernandez: Cruz's
co-defendant, he
had charges dropped after Cruz's acquittal.
Initially convicted: 1985 Freed/exonerated: 1995.
Verneal Jimerson: A Ford Heights
4 member, he
was freed after DNA evidence exonerated him.
Initially convicted: 1985 Freed/exonerated: 1996
*Dennis Williams: A Ford Heights
4 member, he
was freed after DNA evidence exonerated him.
Initially convicted: 1978 Freed/exonerated: 1996
*Gary Gauger: Charges were
dropped by prosecutors.
Others have since been implicated.
Initially convicted: 1993 Freed/exonerated: 1996
Carl Lawson: Acquitted at his
third trial by
a jury.
Initially convicted: 1990 Freed/exonerated: 1996
Anthony Porter: Released after
another man confessed
to the murders.
Initially convicted: 1983 Freed/exonerated: 1999
Steven Smith: Illinois Supreme
Court vacated
his conviction for insufficient evidence.
Initially convicted: 1986 Freed/exonerated: 1999
Ronald Jones: Charges dropped
after he was exonerated
by DNA evidence.
Initially convicted: 1989 Freed/exonerated: 1999
*Steve Manning: Charges dropped
after Illinois
Supreme Court ruled that improper evidence was used to convict him.
Initially convicted: 1993 Freed/exonerated: 2000
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