Instructions for Using the Registry

The table below shows all individual exonerations. By default, the table is set to show exonerations from 1989 through the present. Check "Pre-1989" in the Exoneration Era filter to view Pre-1989 exonerations. Use the filters on the left to search for exonerations with particular criteria. Hover over the symbols for explanations of filters or columns. Use the Keyword Search box to filter for cases that contain those keywords in the narrative summary.

If multiple keywords are entered, the search will show cases in which the narrative contains ANY of those words. Since the table is filtered to 1989 through the present by default, a search for the name of someone who was exonerated before 1989 will not produce results until the Date of Exoneration is adjusted, or the Pre-1989 filter is selected. Once filters have been set, select the column headings you wish to display, and sort the table by whatever column heading you choose by clicking on the column heading. For more detailed instructions, see Understanding the Registry, under "About" at the top right of the Home Page. Note: 1989 was the year of the first DNA exoneration and the dawn of a new era of wrongful convictions. The Registry used to separate the two - pre and post 1989 exonerations - into two separate and distinct databases. They are now synthesized to reflect the entire body of exoneration data. If you wish to view exonerations prior to 1989, check "Pre-1989" in the Exoneration Era filter. Read Less
Total records: 48
Export Data
Select More Columns:
Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Term of Years Years lost Age Race Sex Year of recantation Date of Release Posting Date
Amor, William Illinois DuPage 1997 2018 Murder Term of Years 45 years 20 39 White Male 2017 02-23-2018
Andersen, Daniel Illinois Cook 1982 2015 Murder Term of Years 55 years 25 19 White Male 2007 08-15-2015
Beaman, Alan W. Illinois McLean 1995 2009 Murder Term of Years 50 years 14 20 White Male 2009 08-29-2011
Bray, George Illinois Cook 1942 1958 Sexual Assault Term of Years 99 years 16 28 White Male 1958 06-07-2021
Briggs, Joseph Illinois Cook 1905 1906 Murder Death 1 White Male 1906 04-03-2023
Carter, Brad Illinois Williamson 2013 2015 Child Sex Abuse Not Sentenced 0 38 White Male 2013 02-09-2015
Cerami, Sean Illinois Cook 2012 2013 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 4 years 1 47 White Male 2013 06-08-2016
Del Prete, Jennifer Illinois Will 2005 2022 Murder Term of Years 20 years 9 31 White Female 2014 10-13-2022
Dick, Steven Illinois Cook 1983 2001 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 6 months 1 18 White Male 1984 03-21-2013
Dowaliby, David Illinois Cook 1990 1992 Murder Term of Years 45 years 2 31 White Male 1991 02-25-2012
Eardley, James Illinois McLean 1990 1991 Destruction of Property Not Sentenced 0 23 White Male 1990 10-28-2014
Eaton, Roy Illinois Rock Island 1940 1956 Robbery Term of Years 1 year to life 16 34 White Male 1956
Elsayed, Jessica Illinois Cook 2012 2013 Drug Possession or Sale Probation 0 21 White Female 2012 06-23-2016
Fischer, Marshall Illinois Cook 1942 1942 Robbery Life 0 21 White Male 1942
Flood, Floyd Illinois St. Clair 1924 1926 Robbery Term of Years 10 years to life 1 24 White Male 1926
Gauger, Gary Illinois McHenry 1993 1996 Murder Death 3 41 White Male 1996 08-29-2011
Gold-Smith, Robert Illinois Will 2016 2023 Other Violent Felony Term of Years 30 years 4 50 White Male 2019 05-01-2023
Harling, Harry Illinois Cook 1973 1976 Manslaughter Term of Years 3 to 9 years 2 31 White Male 1975 04-19-2021
Harpstrite, Valentine Illinois St. Clair 1929 1968 Murder Life 20 24 White Male 1949
Howell, Everett Illinois Adams 1928 1930 Robbery Term of Years 1 year to life 2 White Male 1930
Lettrich, George Illinois Cook 1951 1953 Murder Death 2 33 White Male 1953
Linscott, Steven Illinois Cook 1982 1992 Murder Term of Years 40 years 3 26 White Male 1985 08-29-2011
Long, James Illinois Cook 1934 1934 Robbery Term of Years 1 to Life 0 22 White Male 1934
Lucas, Jesse Illinois Wabash 1909 1941 Murder Life 22 23 White Male 1931
Lucas, Margaret Illinois Wabash 1909 1941 Murder Life 0 White Female 1909
Majczek, Joseph Illinois Cook 1933 1946 Murder Term of Years 99 years 12 24 White Male 1945
Marcinkiewicz, Theodore Illinois Cook 1933 1950 Murder Term of Years 99 years 16 25 White Male 1950
McCaughn, Patrick Illinois Lake 1996 1999 Robbery Term of Years 12 years 3 25 White Male 1999 08-29-2011
McDonald, Wilbur Illinois Cook 1971 1973 Murder Term of Years 100 to 150 years 2 31 White Male 1973
Melock, Robert Illinois Lake 1989 2024 Murder Death 35 22 White Male 2024 01-02-2025
Metegrano, Pat Illinois Cook 1942 1942 Robbery Term of Years 1 to 5 years 0 25 White Male 1942
Miller, Lloyd Eldon Illinois Hancock 1956 1971 Murder Death 10 29 White Male 1967
Montgomery, Carl Illinois Moultrie 1984 1989 Burglary/Unlawful Entry Term of Years 7 years 4 44 White Male 1987 07-16-2014
Moran, Nakiya Illinois Cook 2009 2017 Attempted Murder Term of Years 62 years 7 17 White Male 2017 06-06-2018
Rea, Julie Illinois Lawrence 2002 2006 Murder Term of Years 65 years 2 28 White Female 2004 08-29-2011
Shakirov, Mansur Illinois McLean 2014 2018 Manslaughter Term of Years 4 years 2 28 White Male 2015 06-05-2018
Shannon, Mason Illinois LaSalle 2018 2024 Manslaughter Not Sentenced 0 42 White Male 2018 07-15-2024
Smith, Adam Illinois Macon 2016 2020 Threats Term of Years 10 years 4 32 White Male 2019 12-17-2021
Smith, Kenneth Illinois McHenry 2003 2021 Murder Term of Years 67 years 18 25 White Male 2021 08-19-2021
Starks, Ronnie Illinois Lake 1982 1985 Robbery Term of Years 11 years 3 White Male 1985
Sullivan, Melvin Illinois Cook 1979 1987 Murder Term of Years 20 years 7 27 White Male 1987 12-07-2020
Synon, Michael J. Illinois Cook 1900 1901 Murder Death 1 55 White Male 1901
Ward, Madeleine Illinois DuPage 2006 2008 Theft Term of Years 6 years and 7 months 2 52 White Female 2008 04-05-2013
Williams, Herman Illinois Lake 1994 2022 Murder Life without parole 29 29 White Male 2022 09-26-2022
Willing, Rusty Illinois Adams 2016 2020 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 30 years 2 34 White Male 2018 06-23-2020
Woidtke, Rodney Illinois St. Clair 1989 2001 Murder Term of Years 45 years 12 27 White Male 2001 08-29-2011
Wynn, Morris Illinois Cook 2005 2006 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 8 years 2 21 White Male 2006 08-29-2011
Zajicek, Herman Illinois Cook 1907 1917 Murder Death 9 39 White Male 1917