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: 23
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Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Term of Years Years lost Age Race Sex Year of recantation Date of Release Posting Date
Bell, Craig Virginia City of Virginia Beach 1987 1987 Murder Term of Years 20 years 0 24 White Male 1987 09-25-2018
Carter, William Douglas Virginia Loudoun 1988 1992 Assault Term of Years 14 years 4 55 White Male 1992 03-11-2013
Chaplin, Michael T. Virginia Augusta 2008 2009 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 1 year 0 24 White Male 2009 08-29-2011
Coker, Edgar Virginia Stafford 2007 2014 Sexual Assault Term of Years 1 year and 5 months 2 15 Black Male 2007 2009 03-03-2014
Copeland, Darrell A. Virginia Chesapeake City 2007 2008 Weapon Possession or Sale Term of Years 5 years 1 18 Black Male 2008 08-29-2011
Crittle, Yvonne Virginia Newport News City 1988 1997 Sexual Assault Term of Years 7 years 2 24 White Female 1996 1990 02-18-2016
Crum, Paul Jr. Virginia Dickenson 2015 2022 Obstruction of Justice Term of Years 10 years 4 54 White Male 2020 12-21-2022
Davis, Robert Virginia Albemarle 2004 2016 Murder Term of Years 23 years 12 18 White Male 2006 2015 12-29-2016
Johnson, Joshua Virginia Alexandria City 2021 2023 Sexual Assault Term of Years 3 years and 6 months 0 29 Black Male 2022 2021 10-05-2023
Kingrea, David Virginia Montgomery 2014 2022 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 1 year 1 35 White Male 2020 2015 06-29-2022
Lawton, Steven Virginia Newport News City 1990 1997 Sexual Assault Term of Years 72 years 6 37 Black Male 1996 1997 02-18-2016
Lyons, Ernest Virginia Nansemond County (now known as City of Suffolk) 1909 1912 Murder Term of Years 18 years 3 Black Male 1912
McCray, Brian Virginia Norfolk City 1993 1994 Murder Term of Years 43 years 1 24 Black Male 1994 10-12-2011
McLaughlin, Bruce Virginia Loudoun 1998 2002 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 13 years 4 45 White Male 2002 09-27-2013
Merritt, Gilbert III Virginia Norfolk City 2001 2024 Murder Term of Years 30 years 20 22 Black Male 2019 2022 04-04-2024
Monroe, Beverly Virginia Powhatan 1992 2003 Murder Term of Years 22 years 9 54 White Female 2002 08-29-2011
Montgomery, Johnathan Virginia Hampton City 2008 2013 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 7 years and 6 months 4 14 White Male 2012 2012 12-20-2013
Prince, Christopher E. Virginia Culpeper 1994 1995 Burglary/Unlawful Entry Term of Years 6 to 12 years 1 18 Black Male 1995 1995 08-29-2011
Thorne, Esther Virginia Norfolk City 2014 2020 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 17 years 6 45 Black Female 2015 2020 09-17-2020
Weakley, Eric Virginia Culpeper 2001 2022 Murder Term of Years 6 years and 8 months 5 16 White Male 2006 01-26-2022
Weiner, Mark Virginia Albemarle 2013 2015 Kidnapping Term of Years 8 years 2 52 White Male 2015 2015 07-16-2015
Wilson, Elon Virginia Fairfax 2019 2021 Weapon Possession or Sale Term of Years 3 years and 1 month 2 23 Black Male 2021 11-12-2024
Wilson, Eric Virginia Norfolk City 1999 2017 Sexual Assault Term of Years 8 1/2 years 6 21 White Male 2005 2005 03-23-2017