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: 56
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
Abbott, Stearns Kendall Massachusetts Middlesex 1880 1911 Murder Death 31 40 White Male 1911
Andrews, Herbert Massachusetts Suffolk 1914 1914 Forgery Term of Years 1.17 years 0 White Male 1914
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
Burt, Lavale Illinois Cook 1986 1986 Murder Not Sentenced 0 19 Black Male 1986
Cero, Gangi Massachusetts Suffolk 1927 1930 Murder Death 3 21 White Male 1930
Chance, John H. Massachusetts Suffolk 1899 1911 Murder Life 12 31 Don't Know Male 1911
Cobb, Perry Illinois Cook 1979 1987 Murder Death 7 37 Black Male 1987
Collins, Benjamin Massachusetts Middlesex 1928 1928 Robbery Term of Years 2.5 to 3.5 years 0 48 Don't Know Male 1928
Connor, Myles Jr. Massachusetts Norfolk 1981 1985 Murder Life 4 32 White Male 1985
Dixon, James Illinois Cook 1972 1974 Murder Term of Years 25 to 60 years 2 18 Black Male 1974 05-29-2020
Dixon, James Illinois Cook 1976 1976 Assault Term of Years 1 year 0 22 Black Male 1976 05-29-2020
Dudley, Herbert S. Massachusetts Suffolk 1911 1912 Burglary/Unlawful Entry Term of Years 4 to 6 years 1 White Male 1912
Eaton, Roy Illinois Rock Island 1940 1956 Robbery Term of Years 1 year to life 16 34 White Male 1956
Ellison, Ella Mae Massachusetts Suffolk 1974 1978 Murder Life 4 27 Black Female 1978
Evans, Will Illinois Pulaski 1912 1932 Sexual Assault Term of Years 99 years 20 Black Male 1932
Fields, John W. Massachusetts Essex 1892 1892 Burglary/Unlawful Entry Term of Years 2.5 years 1 19 Don't Know Male 1892 01-18-2019
Fischer, Marshall Illinois Cook 1942 1942 Robbery Life 0 21 White Male 1942
Fitzgerald, John Massachusetts Suffolk 1904 1904 Sexual Assault Term of Years 3 to 5 years 0 22 White Male 1904
Flood, Floyd Illinois St. Clair 1924 1926 Robbery Term of Years 10 years to life 1 24 White Male 1926
Fowler, Walter Illinois Cook 1937 1953 Murder Term of Years 99 years 12 19 Black Male 1948
Garrett, Sammie Illinois Cook 1970 1976 Murder Term of Years 20 to 40 years 5 21 Black Male 1975
Grace, Frank Parky Massachusetts Bristol 1974 1988 Murder Life 11 29 Black Male 1985
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
Johnson, Lawyer Massachusetts Suffolk 1972 1982 Murder Death 10 20 Black Male 1982
Leaster, Bobby Joe Massachusetts Suffolk 1971 1986 Murder Life 16 21 Black Male 1986
Lettrich, George Illinois Cook 1951 1953 Murder Death 2 33 White Male 1953
Lindsey, Lloyd Illinois Cook 1975 1979 Murder Term of Years 40 to 80 years 4 17 Black Male 1979
Loftus, John Massachusetts Berkshire 1886 1888 Robbery Term of Years 5 years 2 19 White Male 1888
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
McDonald, Wilbur Illinois Cook 1971 1973 Murder Term of Years 100 to 150 years 2 31 White Male 1973
McManus, John Massachusetts Suffolk 1911 1912 Robbery Term of Years 3 years 1 Don't Know Male 1912
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, James Illinois Lake 1924 1949 Sexual Assault Life 26 30 Black Male 1949
Napue, Henry Illinois Cook 1940 1960 Murder Term of Years 199 years 20 23 Black Male 1960
Olson, Henry Illinois Winnebago 1928 1928 Murder Term of Years Life 0 26 Don't Know Male 1928
Pugh, Earl Howard Illinois Cook 1937 1953 Murder Life 16 19 Black Male 1953
Reissfelder, George Massachusetts Suffolk 1967 1982 Murder Life 10 26 White Male 1977
Rodriguez, Santos Massachusetts Hampden 1954 1957 Murder Life 2 26 Hispanic Male 1957
Sabin, Theodore Illinois Winnebago 1957 1957 Robbery Unknown 0 24 Don't Know Male 1957 04-27-2021
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
Taylor, Harold Massachusetts Suffolk 1927 1927 Robbery Term of Years 4 to 7 years 0 Don't Know Male 1927
Tillis, Darby Illinois Cook 1979 1987 Murder Death 7 36 Black Male 1987
Usher, Cornelius Massachusetts Essex 1902 1904 Burglary/Unlawful Entry Term of Years 3 to 5 years 2 Don't Know Male 1904
Walden, Oscar Jr. Illinois Cook 1952 1978 Sexual Assault Term of Years 75 years 13 20 Black Male 1965 03-30-2020
Ward, Joseph Massachusetts Suffolk 1895 1896 Theft Term of Years 5 years 1 20 Don't Know Male 1896
Zajicek, Herman Illinois Cook 1907 1917 Murder Death 9 39 White Male 1917