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: 51
Export Data
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
Abbitt, Joseph North Carolina Forsyth 1995 2009 Child Sex Abuse Life 14 31 Black Male 2009 09-01-2011
Alexander, Richard Indiana St. Joseph 1998 2001 Sexual Assault Term of Years 70 years 4 29 Black Male 2001 08-29-2011
Alford, John North Carolina Mecklenburg 1975 1976 Murder Death 1 22 Black Male 1976 07-13-2022
Allen, Christopher Indiana St. Joseph 2002 2006 Murder Life 144 years 2 27 Black Male 2004 09-09-2016
Barnhouse, William Indiana Delaware 1992 2017 Sexual Assault Term of Years 80 years 24 35 White Male 2017 05-14-2017
Beaty, Kara Indiana St. Joseph 2023 2025 Manslaughter Term of Years 3 years 1 18 White Female 2024 05-01-2025
Benton, John North Carolina Mecklenburg 1942 1943 Assault Term of Years 15 years 1 15 Black Male 1943 04-01-2021
Blackmon, James North Carolina Wake 1988 2019 Murder Life 32 26 Black Male 2019 09-03-2019
Botts, Nancy Louise Indiana Howard 1934 1935 Forgery Term of Years 2 to 14 years 1 27 White Female 1935
Bridgeman, Walter North Carolina Davidson 1932 1935 Robbery Term of Years 15 years 2 20 White Male 1935
Brown, Jeffrey Indiana Noble 2011 2016 Sex Offender Registration Term of Years 6 months 1 45 White Male 2012 10-04-2022
Brown, Keith North Carolina Wilson 1993 1999 Sexual Assault Term of Years 35 years 4 25 Black Male 1997 08-29-2011
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
Buntin, Harold Indiana Marion 1986 2007 Sexual Assault Term of Years 50 years 21 15 Black Male 2007 08-29-2011
Cotton, Ronald North Carolina Alamance 1985 1995 Sexual Assault Life 10 22 Black Male 1995 08-29-2011
Dail, Dwayne Allen North Carolina Wayne 1989 2007 Child Sex Abuse Life 18 17 White Male 2007 08-29-2011
Daniels, Erick North Carolina Durham 2001 2008 Robbery Term of Years 10 to 14 years 7 14 Black Male 2008 08-29-2011
Donald, Willie Indiana Lake 1992 2016 Murder Term of Years 60 years 24 23 Black Male 2013 2016 02-09-2016
Dunn, Dewayne Indiana Elkhart 2011 2022 Murder Term of Years 58 years 12 46 Black Male 2022 01-03-2023
Fowler, Victor North Carolina Davidson 1932 1935 Robbery Term of Years 15 years 2 19 White Male 1935
Fox, Larry Sr. Indiana Scott 1988 1993 Murder Term of Years 40 years 5 37 White Male 1993 08-12-2017
Grimes, Willie North Carolina Catawba 1988 2012 Sexual Assault Life 24 41 Black Male 2012 10-08-2012
Hatcher, Gerald Indiana Marion 1978 1989 Robbery Term of Years 90 years 10 24 Black Male 1989 05-01-2023
Hefner, Cecil North Carolina Burke 1920 1921 Murder Term of Years 15 years 0 White Male 1921
Hogan, Virgil Indiana Allen 1958 1962 Robbery Term of Years 10 to 25 years 5 26 Don't Know Male 1962 04-14-2021
Horne, Joe North Carolina Davidson 1932 1935 Robbery Term of Years 15 years 2 20 White Male 1935
Jean, Lesly North Carolina Onslow 1982 1991 Sexual Assault Life 9 22 Black Male 1991 08-29-2011
Jeffers, John Indiana Knox 1977 2003 Murder Term of Years 34 years 6 14 White Male 1983 08-29-2011
Laudig, Jessie Indiana Marion 2018 2022 Sex Offender Registration Term of Years 8 months and 10 days 1 36 White Male 2019 06-28-2022
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
Mayes, Larry Indiana Lake 1982 2001 Sexual Assault Term of Years 80 years 19 30 Black Male 2001 08-29-2011
Moreno, Noe North Carolina Mecklenburg 2007 2012 Murder Term of Years 18 to 22 years 5 26 Hispanic Male 2012 09-03-2012
Neirynck, Brian Indiana St. Joseph 2003 2012 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 30 years 8 33 White Male 2011 02-11-2015
Nelson, Melvin Indiana Lake 1975 1978 Other Nonviolent Felony Life 3 33 Black Male 1978 04-14-2021
Palmer, Sylvian North Carolina Davidson 1932 1935 Robbery Term of Years 15 years 2 20 White Male 1935
Reed, Pamela Indiana Hendricks 1997 1998 Theft Term of Years 4 days 0 36 White Female 1997 03-29-2018
Roberts, Clarence North Carolina Robeson 2017 2025 Murder Term of Years 25 to 31 years 8 37 Black Male 2025 05-05-2025
Sailors, Gerald Indiana Huntington 1991 1993 Manslaughter Term of Years 22 years 1 46 White Male 1992 07-28-2017
Sawyer, Lonnie North Carolina Union 1975 1977 Kidnapping Term of Years 28 to 32 years 2 18 White Male 1977
Sawyer, Sandy North Carolina Union 1975 1977 Kidnapping Term of Years 32 to 40 years 2 21 White Male 1977
Scruggs, Dwayne Indiana Marion 1986 1993 Sexual Assault Term of Years 40 years 8 32 Black Male 1993 08-29-2011
Shaw, Willie Jr. North Carolina Mecklenburg 2016 2021 Other Violent Felony Term of Years 8 2/3 to 11 5/12 5 43 Black Male 2019 2021 02-16-2021
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
Shreve, Thomas North Carolina Onslow 1988 1989 Threats Probation 0 31 White Male 1988 04-14-2015
Sims, Mack Indiana Elkhart 1994 2019 Attempted Murder Term of Years 35 years 16 21 Black Male 2011 05-16-2019
Singleton, Edward Indiana Lake 1931 1935 Robbery Term of Years 10 years 4 39 White Male 1935
Snipes, Steven North Carolina Lee 1998 2003 Robbery Term of Years 7 years and 6 months 5 35 Black Male 2003 08-29-2011
Thomas, Deama Indiana St. Joseph 1989 1992 Robbery Term of Years 6 years 3 27 Black Male 1992 09-05-2017
Waters, Leo North Carolina Onslow 1982 2003 Sexual Assault Life 21 30 White Male 2003 08-29-2011
Wellmon, William North Carolina Iredell 1942 1943 Sexual Assault Death 1 36 Black Male 1943
Womble, Willie North Carolina Granville 1976 2014 Murder Term of Years 80 years 38 21 Black Male 2014 10-17-2014