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: 4141
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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
Williams, John Illinois Cook 2007 2022 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 3 months 1 37 Black Male 2008 03-14-2022 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CIU, IO, NC, P OF, WH, NW
Williams, Johnny Jr. California Alameda 2000 2013 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 16 years 13 23 Black Male 2013 03-08-2013 Mistaken Witness ID, False Confession, Official Misconduct CV, IO, SA OF, NW
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
Williams, Lawrence New York Kings 2009 2012 Assault Term of Years 10 years 3 32 Black Male 2012 10-26-2012 Mistaken Witness ID CIU
Williams, Leroy Illinois Cook 2008 2022 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 3 years 1 28 Black Male 2009 03-14-2022 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CIU, IO, NC, P OF, WH, NW
Williams, Maurice Missouri St. Louis 1984 1984 Robbery Term of Years 25 years 0 30 Black Male 1984 11-23-2020 Mistaken Witness ID
Williams, Michael Louisiana Jefferson 1997 2011 Murder Life 14 31 Black Male 2009 2011 06-18-2012 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, IO PR, WH, NW, KP, WT
Williams, Michael California Los Angeles 1996 2000 Weapon Possession or Sale Term of Years 25 to life 0 39 Black Male 1996 09-20-2021 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct NC OF, WH, NW, PJ
Williams, Michael Anthony Louisiana Jackson 1981 2005 Sexual Assault Life without parole 24 16 Black Male 2005 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID IO, JV, SA
Williams, Michelle Texas Swisher 2000 2003 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 2 years 2 30 Black Female 2002 06-10-2022 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct F, NC, P PR, OF, WH, NW
Williams, Octavius Ohio Cuyahoga 2011 2024 Attempted Murder Term of Years 15 years 8 17 Black Male 2019 06-26-2024 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence CIU, IO, JV
Williams, Paul Michigan Berrien 2008 2008 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 3 to 40 years 1 25 Black Male 2008 01-09-2023 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct NC OF, WH, NW, PJ
Williams, Randolph New York Kings 2008 2016 Murder Term of Years 25 to life 8 22 Black Male 2015 2016 03-28-2016 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H OF, WH, NW, WT, PJ
Williams, Richard California Sacramento 1998 2015 Murder Life without parole 17 18 Black Male 2015 01-26-2016 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CV, H PR, OF, NW, WT
Williams, Robert Illinois Kankakee 2017 2021 Assault Term of Years 9 years 3 28 Black Male 2020 12-10-2021 NC
Williams, Ronald Michigan Wayne 2010 2013 Manslaughter Term of Years 10 to 20 years 2 44 Black Male 2012 09-19-2022 Mistaken Witness ID, Inadequate Legal Defense H
Williams, Shawn New York Kings 1994 2018 Murder Term of Years 25 to life 24 19 Black Male 2009 2018 07-24-2018 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense H PR, OF, WH, NW, WT, PJ
Williams, Terrance Pennsylvania Philadelphia 1985 2020 Murder Term of Years 13 1/2 to 27 years 1 17 Black Male 1986 03-25-2020 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, JV PR, WH, NW, KP, WT, PL
Williams, Thomas Wayne Texas Dallas 1998 2000 Drug Possession or Sale Life 2 38 Black Male 2000 08-29-2011 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct NC OF, WH, NW, PJ
Williams, Tyrece Illinois Cook 1991 2025 Murder Term of Years 35 years 19 22 Black Male 2024 2009 04-22-2025 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CV, H, IO OF, WH, NW, WT
Williams, Victor Wisconsin Jackson 2012 2014 Sexual Assault Term of Years 12 years 2 32 Black Male 2012 2014 11-12-2016 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CV, NC, SA OF, WH, NW, PJ
Williams, Willie Georgia Fulton 1985 2007 Sexual Assault Term of Years 45 years 22 23 Black Male 2007 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence IO, SA
Williams, Willie Florida Duval 1976 2024 Attempted Murder Life 44 30 Black Male 2020 01-09-2024 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct CIU, IO PR, OF, WH
Williamson, Jack Florida Broward 1933 1942 Murder Death 9 19 Black Male 1942 02-11-2021 False Confession, Official Misconduct
Williamson, Ronald Keith Oklahoma Pontotoc 1988 1999 Murder Death 11 29 White Male 1999 1999 08-29-2011 False Confession, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense H, IO, JI, SA PR, WH
Willing, Rusty Illinois Adams 2016 2020 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 30 years 2 34 White Male 2018 06-23-2020 Perjury or False Accusation CV, NC, SA
Willis, Calvin Louisiana Caddo 1982 2003 Child Sex Abuse Life without parole 22 21 Black Male 2003 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Official Misconduct CV, IO, SA OF, WH, NW
Willis, Cedric Mississippi Hinds 1997 2006 Murder Life 9 19 Black Male 2006 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct CV, H, IO OF, WH, NW, WT
Willis, Deon Illinois Cook 2008 2018 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 2 Years 1 33 Black Male 2010 12-03-2018 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CIU, IO, NC, P OF, WH, NW
Willis, Dexter Illinois Cook 2004 2022 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 3 years 1 19 Black Male 2005 05-16-2022 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CIU, IO, NC, P OF, WH, NW
Willis, Dexter Illinois Cook 2003 2022 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 3 months 0 18 Black Male 2003 10-04-2022 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CIU, IO, NC, P OF, WH, NW
Willis, Ernest Ray Texas Pecos 1987 2004 Murder Death 17 39 White Male 2004 08-29-2011 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense A, H, NC OF, WH, NW
Willis, James California Sacramento 1927 1927 Robbery Term of Years 5 years to life 0 27 Don't Know Male 1927 Mistaken Witness ID, False Confession
Willis, John Illinois Cook 1993 1999 Sexual Assault Life 6 42 Black Male 1999 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct SA PR, FA, WH, NW, PJ
Willis, Marrio D'Shane Oklahoma Tulsa 2003 2006 Robbery Term of Years 10 years 2 23 Black Male 2004 2006 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Inadequate Legal Defense
Willis, Patrick California Alameda 2013 2021 Murder Life without parole 8 28 Black Male 2021 06-18-2021 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Inadequate Legal Defense H, SA
Willoughby, Troy Wyoming Sublette 2010 2012 Murder Life 2 20 White Male 2012 04-18-2012 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, H, JI PR, WH
Wills, Ruben New York Queens 2017 2021 Fraud Term of Years 2 to 6 years 2 38 Black Male 2019 05-25-2021 NC
Wilmoth, Franklin Ohio Portage 1994 2000 Sexual Assault Term of Years 3 years 1 51 White Male 1995 10-18-2018 Perjury or False Accusation NC, SA
Wilson, Albert Kansas Douglas 2019 2021 Sexual Assault Term of Years 12 years and 3 months 2 20 Black Male 2021 03-21-2022 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Inadequate Legal Defense CV, NC, SA
Wilson, Andrew California Los Angeles 1986 2017 Murder Life without parole 30 29 Black Male 2017 04-03-2017 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, IO PR, OF, WH, NW, WT, PJ
Wilson, Carol Jean Michigan Wayne 2011 2013 Forgery Probation 0 57 Black Female 2011 12-30-2013 Perjury or False Accusation, Inadequate Legal Defense F, NC
Wilson, Dale Oregon Marion 2016 2022 Burglary/Unlawful Entry Term of Years 4 years 4 34 White Male 2016 2019 04-24-2024 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Inadequate Legal Defense CV, NC
Wilson, David Florida Miami-Dade 1967 1971 Murder Term of Years 20 years 4 23 Black Male 1971 Perjury or False Accusation
Wilson, Deontae Ohio Cuyahoga 2017 2017 Robbery Not Sentenced 0 28 Black Male 2017 08-24-2017 Mistaken Witness ID CIU, CV
Wilson, Donald Indiana Gibson 1995 1997 Other Violent Felony Term of Years 2 years and 2 months 1 42 White Male 1995 1996 09-29-2017 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct NC OF, NW, PJ
Wilson, Edwin Fed-VA (Eastern) 1983 2004 Weapon Possession or Sale Term of Years 17 years 21 49 White Male 2004 08-29-2011 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct FED PR, WH, NW, PL
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 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct P OF, NW
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 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, SA OF, WH, NW, WT, INT
Wilson, Harold C. Pennsylvania Philadelphia 1989 2005 Murder Death 16 30 Black Male 2005 08-29-2011 Official Misconduct H PR, NW
Wilson, Horace New Jersey Mercer 1948 1951 Murder Death 3 37 Black Male 1951 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Official Misconduct
Wilson, Jackie Illinois Cook 1983 2020 Murder Life without parole 35 21 Black Male 2018 2018 10-16-2020 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, H, JI PR, OF, WH, NW, KP, WT, PJ, INT, PL
Wilson, Johnny Lee Missouri Lawrence 1987 1995 Murder Life without parole 8 20 White Male 1989 1995 08-29-2011 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, P OF, NW, WT, INT
Wilson, Kathryn Dawn North Carolina Chowan 1993 1997 Child Sex Abuse Life 3 22 White Female 1995 08-29-2011 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CSH, CV, F, NC, SA PR, OF, CW, WH, NW, WT
Wilson, Robert Illinois Cook 1999 2006 Attempted Murder Term of Years 30 years 7 41 Black Male 2006 2006 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False Confession, Official Misconduct PR, OF, WH, NW, WT, INT
Wilson, Sharrif New York Kings 1994 2014 Murder Term of Years 9 to Life 20 15 Black Male 1994 2014 02-11-2014 False Confession, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CDC, CIU, CV, H, JV OF, NW, WT, INT, PJ
Wilson, Theophalis Pennsylvania Philadelphia 1993 2020 Murder Life without parole 26 17 Black Male 2011 2020 02-03-2020 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CDC, CIU, CV, H, JV PR, WH, NW, KP, WT
Wilson, Theopolis Wisconsin Racine 1989 1991 Burglary/Unlawful Entry Term of Years 5 years 2 22 Black Male 1991 08-01-2012 NC
Wilson, William Alabama Blount 1915 1918 Murder Life 3 38 White Male 1918 Perjury or False Accusation
Winfrey, Megan Texas San Jacinto 2008 2013 Murder Life 5 16 White Female 2013 04-18-2013 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence F, H, JV
Winfrey, Richard Sr. Texas San Jacinto 2007 2010 Murder Term of Years 75 years 3 49 White Male 2010 08-29-2011 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation H, JI
Winslow, Thomas Nebraska Gage 1990 2009 Accessory to Murder Term of Years 50 years 18 19 White Male 2008 2008 08-29-2011 False Confession, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, P, SA OF, NW, WT, INT
Winston, J'Avarus Texas Harris 2015 2016 Drug Possession or Sale Probation 0 17 Black Male 2015 05-31-2016 CIU, JV, M, NC, P
Winston, Michael Illinois Cook 2007 2012 Murder Term of Years 40 years 5 21 Black Male 2007 2012 07-05-2012 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, IO OF, NW, WT
Winston, Michael Wisconsin Milwaukee 2013 2018 Attempted Murder Term of Years 26 years 5 29 Black Male 2018 09-21-2018 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation, Inadequate Legal Defense CDC
Wirkkala, Luke Oregon Deschutes 2014 2021 Murder Life 7 32 White Male 2021 04-28-2021 H, NC
Wise, Korey New York New York 1990 2002 Sexual Assault Term of Years 5 to 15 years 12 16 Black Male 2002 08-29-2011 False Confession, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, IO, JV, SA OF, WH, NW, INT
Wise, Martez Illinois Cook 2007 2018 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 1 year 1 23 Black Male 2008 12-03-2018 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CIU, IO, NC, P OF, WH, NW
Witt, Drayton Arizona Maricopa 2002 2012 Murder Term of Years 20 years 10 18 White Male 2012 2012 11-01-2012 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence CV, H, NC, SBS, IO
Woidtke, Rodney Illinois St. Clair 1989 2001 Murder Term of Years 45 years 12 27 White Male 2001 08-29-2011 False Confession, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense H, SA PR, WH
Womble, Willie North Carolina Granville 1976 2014 Murder Term of Years 80 years 38 21 Black Male 2014 10-17-2014 False Confession, Official Misconduct H OF, NW, INT
Wong, David New York Clinton 1987 2004 Murder Term of Years 25 to Life 17 23 Asian Male 2001 2004 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense H, JI PR, WH
Wood, Danny Indiana Bartholomew 1987 1990 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 12 years 4 26 White Male 1990 06-16-2020 Perjury or False Accusation CV, SA
Wood, Sidney California Los Angeles 1924 1925 Robbery Term of Years 5 years to life 1 White Male 1925 Mistaken Witness ID
Woodall, Glen West Virginia Cabell 1987 1992 Sexual Assault Life 4 28 White Male 1991 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct SA PR, FA, WH, NW, PJ
Woodard, James Lee Texas Dallas 1981 2008 Murder Life 27 26 Black Male DK 2008 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct CIU, H, IO, SA PR, WH
Woodley, Collin New York Suffolk 1990 1998 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 10 to 20 years 8 30 White Male 1998 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID
Woods, Anthony Missouri St. Louis City 1984 2005 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 25 years 18 20 Black Male 2002 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence CV, SA
Woods, Cathy Nevada Washoe 1980 2015 Murder Life without parole 34 26 White Female 2014 03-09-2015 False Confession, Official Misconduct F, H, IO OF, WH, NW, PJ
Woods, Cedric Texas Harris 2013 2023 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 1 year 1 44 Black Male 2014 12-05-2023 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CIU, NC, P OF, WH, NW
Woods, Cedric Texas Harris 2007 2024 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 90 days 0 38 Black Male 2007 03-27-2024 NC, P
Woods, D'Andra Illinois Cook 2004 2022 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 3 years 2 25 Black Male 2006 05-18-2022 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CIU, IO, NC, P OF, WH, NW
Woods, William Fed-AR (Western) 1888 1889 Murder Death 0 20 White Male 1889
Woods, William California Los Angeles 2021 2024 Fraud Term of Years 2 years 0 51 White Male 2023 2021 04-21-2024 Perjury or False Accusation CIU, NC, P
Woodside, Gary Jr. New York Jefferson 1989 2007 Manslaughter Term of Years 1 1/3 to 4 years 3 20 White Male 1992 12-20-2013 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, JI OF, NW, INT
Woodward, Walter Florida Broward 1933 1942 Murder Death 9 32 Black Male 1942 02-11-2021 False Confession, Official Misconduct
Woodworth, Mark Missouri Livingston 1995 2014 Murder Life 19 16 White Male 2014 07-23-2014 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Official Misconduct H, JV PR, WH
Woolfolk, Michael Georgia Fulton 2004 2021 Murder Life without parole 17 23 Black Male 2021 05-22-2021 Perjury or False Accusation CIU, H, NC
Woolson, Skippy New York Oswego 2013 2016 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 13 years 4 34 White Male 2015 2016 03-18-2017 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Inadequate Legal Defense CV, NC, SA
Wooten, Suzanne Texas Collin 2011 2017 Bribery Probation 0 40 White Female 2011 06-19-2018 F, NC
Word, Lathan Georgia Muscogee 2000 2011 Robbery Term of Years 15 years 11 18 Black Male 2011 2011 03-12-2013 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CV PR, NW
Worden, George IV Tennessee Sumner 2020 2024 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 60 days 0 28 White Male 2020 08-16-2024 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence M, NC
Worthy, Terence New Jersey Essex 2004 2005 Weapon Possession or Sale Term of Years 7 years 1 36 Black Male 2005 12-11-2017 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct NC, P OF, WH, NW
Wosu, Joy New York Erie 1993 2009 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 25 years 16 33 Black Female 2009 12-18-2013 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Inadequate Legal Defense CV, F, NC, SA
Woten, Michael Anthony Texas Dallas 1982 1990 Robbery Term of Years 55 years 8 19 White Male 1990 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID
Wrice, Stanley Illinois Cook 1983 2013 Sexual Assault Life 31 28 Black Male 2011 2013 12-12-2013 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct IO, SA PR, OF, WH, NW, WT, PJ, INT
Wright, Anthony Pennsylvania Philadelphia 1993 2016 Murder Life without parole 23 20 Black Male 2013 2016 08-26-2016 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, IO, SA OF, WH, NW, WT, INT, PJ
Wright, Anthony Illinois Cook 2007 2022 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 2 years 0 42 Black Male 2007 03-14-2022 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CIU, IO, NC, P OF, WH, NW
Wright, Anthony Jr. Illinois Cook 2005 2022 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 5 years 2 19 Black Male 2006 05-11-2022 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CIU, NC, IO OF, WH, NW, PJ
Wright, Cleveland District of Columbia 1979 2014 Murder Term of Years 20 to Life 27 20 Black Male 2007 02-03-2014 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, IO FA, WH, NW, PJ