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 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
Armstrong, LaMonte North Carolina Guilford 1995 2013 Murder Life 17 38 Black Male 1995 2012 03-19-2013 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, H, IO, JI OF, WH
Bridges, Timothy North Carolina Mecklenburg 1991 2016 Sexual Assault Life 25 22 White Male 2015 03-07-2016 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct IO, SA OF, WH, NW, WT
Brown, Keith North Carolina Wilson 1993 1999 Sexual Assault Term of Years 35 years 4 25 Black Male 1997 08-29-2011 False Confession CV, P, SA
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
Brown, Leon North Carolina Robeson 1984 2014 Murder Death 30 15 Black Male 2014 09-02-2014 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, CV, H, JV, SA PR, OF, WH, NW, WT
Carver, Mark North Carolina Gaston 2011 2022 Murder Life 8 39 White Male 2019 2019 08-23-2022 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense H, IO PR, FA, WH, NW, PJ
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
Crotts, Mark North Carolina Alamance 1992 1997 Murder Life without parole 2 21 White Male 1994 11-21-2024 Perjury or False Accusation, Inadequate Legal Defense H, JI
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
Howard, Darryl North Carolina Durham 1995 2016 Murder Term of Years 80 years 21 29 Black Male 2004 2016 09-06-2016 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct A, CV, H, IO, SA PR, OF, WH, NW, KP, PJ, PL
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
Isbell, Teddy North Carolina Buncombe 2003 2015 Accessory to Murder Term of Years 3 years 4 35 Black Male 2007 10-11-2015 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CDC, JI, P PR, OF, WH, NW, WT
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
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
McCollum, Henry North Carolina Robeson 1984 2014 Murder Death 30 19 Black Male 2014 09-02-2014 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, CV, H, SA PR, OF, WH, NW, INT
McInnis, Edward North Carolina Scotland 1988 2015 Sexual Assault Life 27 27 Black Male 2015 08-15-2015 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Inadequate Legal Defense IO, P, SA
Mills, Damian North Carolina Buncombe 2001 2015 Murder Term of Years 12 years 9 20 Black Male 2010 10-11-2015 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CDC, H, JI, P PR, OF, WH, NW, WT
Sledge, Joseph North Carolina Bladen 1978 2015 Murder Life 36 34 Black Male 2013 2015 01-23-2015 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, IO, JI, SA PR, WH, NW, WT
Taylor, Gregory North Carolina Wake 1993 2010 Murder Life 17 29 White Male 1998 2010 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense H, IO, JI PR, FA, WH, NW
Waters, Leo North Carolina Onslow 1982 2003 Sexual Assault Life 21 30 White Male 2003 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID SA
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