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: 28
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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 Contributing Factors Display Case Characteristics Recantation OM Tags DNA
Abbitt, Joseph North Carolina Forsyth 1995 2009 Child Sex Abuse Life 14 31 Black Male 2009 09-01-2011 Mistaken Witness ID CV, IO, SA
Alford, John North Carolina Mecklenburg 1975 1976 Murder Death 1 22 Black Male 1976 07-13-2022 Mistaken Witness ID
Benton, John North Carolina Mecklenburg 1942 1943 Assault Term of Years 15 years 1 15 Black Male 1943 04-01-2021 Mistaken Witness ID, False Confession
Brown, Knolly Jr. North Carolina Edgecomb 2009 2016 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 5 to 6 3/4 years 4 37 Black Male 2013 10-26-2016 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence CV, P, SA
Carmon, Darron North Carolina Pitt 1994 2022 Robbery Term of Years 14 to 40 years 8 19 Black Male 2001 09-19-2022 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense OF, WH, NW, WT
Cotton, Ronald North Carolina Alamance 1985 1995 Sexual Assault Life 10 22 Black Male 1995 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence SA
Dail, Dwayne Allen North Carolina Wayne 1989 2007 Child Sex Abuse Life 18 17 White Male 2007 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence CV, IO, JV, SA
Daniels, Erick North Carolina Durham 2001 2008 Robbery Term of Years 10 to 14 years 7 14 Black Male 2008 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense JV PR, WH
Finch, Charles North Carolina Wilson 1976 2019 Murder Death 43 38 Black Male 2002 2019 06-24-2019 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, IO OF, WH, NW, WT, PJ
Garner, Terence North Carolina Johnston 1998 2002 Attempted Murder Term of Years 32 to 43 years 4 16 Black Male 1998 2002 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation CDC, JV
Grimes, Willie North Carolina Catawba 1988 2012 Sexual Assault Life 24 41 Black Male 2012 10-08-2012 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence IO, SA
Hefner, Cecil North Carolina Burke 1920 1921 Murder Term of Years 15 years 0 White Male 1921 Mistaken Witness ID
Hunt, Darryl North Carolina Forsyth 1985 2004 Murder Life 18 19 Black Male 2003 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, JI, SA PR, WH, WT
Hunt, Darryl North Carolina Forsyth 1987 1990 Murder Term of Years 40 years 0 18 Black Male 1987 12-30-2023 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation CDC, H
Jean, Lesly North Carolina Onslow 1982 1991 Sexual Assault Life 9 22 Black Male 1991 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct SA PR, WH
Johnson, Kevin North Carolina Durham 2010 2023 Attempted Murder Term of Years 24 2/3 to 30 5/12 years 13 24 Black Male 2020 2023 07-20-2023 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, IO PR, OF, WH, NW, WT
Kagonyera, Kenneth North Carolina Buncombe 2001 2011 Murder Term of Years 12 to 15 years 10 20 Black Male 2011 2011 10-12-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CDC, H, JI, P PR, OF, WH, NW, WT
Long, Ronnie North Carolina Cabarrus 1976 2020 Sexual Assault Life 44 20 Black Male 2020 09-14-2020 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct IO, SA OF, FA, WH, NW, WT, PJ
Massey, Shawn Giovanni North Carolina Mecklenburg 1999 2010 Kidnapping Term of Years 11 1/2 to 15 1/4 years 11 25 Black Male 2010 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct CV, IO, SA OF, WH
Roberts, Clarence North Carolina Robeson 2017 2025 Murder Term of Years 25 to 31 years 8 37 Black Male 2025 05-05-2025 Mistaken Witness ID H
Sawyer, Lonnie North Carolina Union 1975 1977 Kidnapping Term of Years 28 to 32 years 2 18 White Male 1977 Mistaken Witness ID
Sawyer, Sandy North Carolina Union 1975 1977 Kidnapping Term of Years 32 to 40 years 2 21 White Male 1977 Mistaken Witness ID
Shelton, Horace North Carolina Buncombe 2012 2014 Forgery Term of Years 10 7/12 to 13 1/2 years 2 51 Black Male 2014 11-28-2016 Mistaken Witness ID, Inadequate Legal Defense
Snipes, Steven North Carolina Lee 1998 2003 Robbery Term of Years 7 years and 6 months 5 35 Black Male 2003 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Inadequate Legal Defense
Waters, Leo North Carolina Onslow 1982 2003 Sexual Assault Life 21 30 White Male 2003 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID SA
Wellmon, William North Carolina Iredell 1942 1943 Sexual Assault Death 1 36 Black Male 1943 Mistaken Witness ID
Wilcoxson, Robert North Carolina Buncombe 2002 2011 Murder Term of Years 12 1/2 to 15 3/4 years 9 21 Black Male 2011 10-12-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CDC, H, JI, P PR, OF, WH, NW, WT
Williams, Larry Jr. North Carolina Buncombe 2002 2015 Murder Term of Years 10 years 7 16 Black Male 2009 10-11-2015 Mistaken Witness ID, False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CDC, H, JI, P, JV PR, OF, WH, NW, WT, INT