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: 42
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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
Anderson, Marvin Virginia Hanover 1982 2002 Sexual Assault Life 15 18 Black Male 1997 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID IO, SA No Yes
Barbour, Bennett Virginia James City 1978 2012 Sexual Assault Term of Years 10 years 4 22 Black Male 1982 06-27-2012 Mistaken Witness ID IO, SA No Yes
Barnes, Lamar Virginia Portsmouth City 2003 2022 Murder Life 18 20 Black Male 2010 2022 01-27-2022 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CDC, H, IO Yes PR, OF, WH, NW, KP, WT, PJ No
Carter, Joseph Virginia Norfolk City 1990 2021 Murder Life 26 Black Male 2018 2016 08-24-2021 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation, Inadequate Legal Defense H, IO Yes No
Coker, Edgar Virginia Stafford 2007 2014 Sexual Assault Term of Years 1 year and 5 months 2 15 Black Male 2007 2009 03-03-2014 Perjury or False Accusation, Inadequate Legal Defense CV, IO, JV, NC, P, SA Yes No
Conteh, Maligie Virginia Fairfax 2010 2013 Robbery Term of Years 1 year and 11 months 2 19 Black Male 2011 04-23-2013 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense IO No PR, WH, NW No
Copeland, Darrell A. Virginia Chesapeake City 2007 2008 Weapon Possession or Sale Term of Years 5 years 1 18 Black Male 2008 08-29-2011 NC No No
Cunningham, Calvin Wayne Virginia Newport News City 1981 2011 Sexual Assault Term of Years 16 years 7 26 Black Male 1988 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence SA No Yes
Davidson, Willie Virginia Norfolk City 1981 2005 Sexual Assault Term of Years 20 years 11 24 Black Male 1992 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence SA No Yes
Dixon, Malvester Jr. Virginia Martinsville City 2005 2006 Accessory to Murder Not Sentenced 0 51 Black Male 2005 2005 08-18-2018 Perjury or False Accusation CDC Yes No
Duffy, Keshawn Virginia Hampton City 2019 2024 Child Sex Abuse Life without parole 5 34 Black Male 2020 2024 09-15-2024 Perjury or False Accusation CV, NC, SA Yes No
Gray, Russell Leroy Virginia Richmond City 1987 1990 Murder Term of Years 52 years 3 20 Black Male 1990 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID H No No
Harper, William Virginia Norfolk 1931 1931 Sexual Assault Death 0 22 Black Male 1931 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct No No
Haynesworth, Thomas Virginia Richmond City 1984 2011 Sexual Assault Term of Years 74 years 27 18 Black Male 2011 02-24-2012 Mistaken Witness ID SA No Yes
Hopkins, Troy Virginia Richmond City 1990 2005 Murder Term of Years 28 years 10 23 Black Male 2001 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID H No No
Johnson, Joshua Virginia Alexandria City 2021 2023 Sexual Assault Term of Years 3 years and 6 months 0 29 Black Male 2022 2021 10-05-2023 Perjury or False Accusation NC, SA Yes No
Lawton, Steven Virginia Newport News City 1990 1997 Sexual Assault Term of Years 72 years 6 37 Black Male 1996 1997 02-18-2016 Perjury or False Accusation CV, NC, SA Yes No
Lyons, Ernest Virginia Nansemond County (now known as City of Suffolk) 1909 1912 Murder Term of Years 18 years 3 Black Male 1912 False Confession No No
McCray, Brian Virginia Norfolk City 1993 1994 Murder Term of Years 43 years 1 24 Black Male 1994 10-12-2011 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H No PR, OF, WH No
McLean, Keyiede Virginia Arlington 2023 2025 Theft Fine 0 45 Black Female 2023 02-07-2025 Perjury or False Accusation CIU, F, M No No
Merritt, Gilbert III Virginia Norfolk City 2001 2024 Murder Term of Years 30 years 20 22 Black Male 2019 2022 04-04-2024 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, IO Yes PR, OF, WH, NW, WT, PJ No
Moore, Curtis Virginia Greensville 1978 2010 Murder Life 3 32 Black Male 1981 08-29-2011 False Confession, Official Misconduct H, PH, SA No OF, NW, INT Yes
Morman, Bobbie Jr. Virginia Norfolk City 1993 2021 Attempt, Violent Term of Years 48 years 22 18 Black Male 2016 2016 08-16-2021 Mistaken Witness ID, Inadequate Legal Defense IO Yes No
Phillips, Richard Virginia City of Hampton 1900 1930 Murder Death 31 Black Male 1930 Perjury or False Accusation, Inadequate Legal Defense No No
Prince, Christopher E. Virginia Culpeper 1994 1995 Burglary/Unlawful Entry Term of Years 6 to 12 years 1 18 Black Male 1995 1995 08-29-2011 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CV, NC, P, SA Yes OF, WH, NW, WT No
Rogers, Silas Virginia City of Petersburg 1943 1952 Murder Death 9 21 Black Male 1952 Mistaken Witness ID, False Confession No No
Ruffin, Julius Virginia Norfolk City 1982 2003 Sexual Assault Life 20 28 Black Male 2003 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID SA No Yes
Scott, Winston Virginia Fairfax 1976 2019 Sexual Assault Term of Years 14 years 5 19 Black Male 1981 03-15-2019 Mistaken Witness ID IO, SA No Yes
Snyder, Walter Virginia Arlington 1986 1993 Sexual Assault Term of Years 45 years 7 20 Black Male 1993 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False Confession, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct IO, SA No PR, OF, WH, NW, INT, PJ Yes
Talley, Dell Virginia Henrico 1991 1991 Sexual Assault Not Sentenced 0 23 Black Male 1991 10-13-2014 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense SA No PR, OF, WH No
Thomas, Maverick Virginia Martinsville City 2005 2006 Murder Life 1 31 Black Male 2005 2006 08-18-2018 Perjury or False Accusation CDC, H Yes No
Thompson, Teddy Virginia Hampton City 2001 2007 Robbery Term of Years 16 years 6 16 Black Male 2007 2007 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID JV Yes No
Thorne, Esther Virginia Norfolk City 2014 2020 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 17 years 6 45 Black Female 2015 2020 09-17-2020 Perjury or False Accusation CV, F, NC, SA Yes No
Thurman, Philip Leon Virginia Alexandria City 1985 2005 Sexual Assault Term of Years 31 years 19 29 Black Male 2004 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID SA No Yes
Tillman, Jervon Virginia Henrico 2009 2022 Robbery Term of Years 25 years 7 26 Black Male 2016 01-31-2022 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense IO No PR, WH No
Tingle, John Jr. Virginia Virginia Beach 1993 1994 Assault Term of Years 10 years 0 25 Black Male 1993 1994 03-11-2013 Mistaken Witness ID Yes No
Washington, Earl Jr. Virginia Culpeper 1984 2000 Murder Death 17 22 Black Male 2000 08-29-2011 False Confession, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense H, SA No OF, NW, INT Yes
Watford, Roy III Virginia Portsmouth City 1978 2018 Child Sex Abuse Probation 0 18 Black Male 1978 03-08-2018 Perjury or False Accusation CV, P, SA No Yes
Webb, Troy Virginia Virginia Beach 1989 1996 Sexual Assault Term of Years 47 years 8 19 Black Male 1996 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence SA No Yes
White, Curtis Virginia Loudoun 1993 1994 Murder Not Sentenced 1 31 Black Male 1994 03-11-2013 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, H, JI No PR, WH No
Whitfield, Arthur Lee Virginia Norfolk City 1982 2009 Sexual Assault Term of Years 63 years 23 26 Black Male 2004 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct SA No OF, WH, NW, WT Yes
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 No OF, NW No