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: 30
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 Contributing Factors Display Case Characteristics Recantation OM Tags DNA
Amick, Michael Missouri Oregon 2011 2016 Murder Life 5 32 White Male 2016 12-10-2016 Inadequate Legal Defense A, H, JI No No
Buchli, Richard II Missouri Jackson 2002 2012 Murder Life without parole 5 50 White Male 2008 08-16-2013 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense H No PR, WH, NW, KP, WT No
Callanan, Lawrence Missouri St. Louis 1996 2020 Murder Life without parole 24 19 White Male 2018 2020 07-06-2020 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CIU, H Yes PR, WH, NW, KP, WT, PL No
Craig, Alvin Missouri Jefferson 1929 1930 Murder Term of Years 10 years 1 White Male 1930 Mistaken Witness ID No No
DeMore, Louis Missouri St. Louis 1934 1934 Murder Life 0 43 White Male 1934 Mistaken Witness ID, False Confession No No
Dexter, Clarence Richard Jr. Missouri Clay 1991 1999 Murder Death 8 49 White Male 1998 1999 08-29-2011 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense H Yes PR, NW No
Engel, Gary Missouri Clay 1991 2010 Kidnapping Term of Years 90 years 19 33 White Male 2010 08-29-2011 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct JI No PR, OF, WH, NW, WT, PJ No
Faria, Russell Missouri Lincoln 2013 2015 Murder Life without parole 2 41 White Male 2015 11-16-2015 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Official Misconduct H No PR, OF, WH, NW, PJ No
Ferguson, Ryan Missouri Boone 2005 2013 Murder Term of Years 40 years 8 17 White Male 2009 2013 11-14-2013 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, H, JV Yes PR, WH, NW, KP, WT No
Hall, Jennifer Missouri Cass 2001 2005 Arson Term of Years 3 years 3 20 White Female 2005 08-29-2011 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Inadequate Legal Defense A, F, NC No No
Hall, Paula Missouri Christian 2009 2013 Murder Term of Years 20 years 4 36 White Female 2013 10-14-2013 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence CDC, F, H, JI No PR, WH No
Helmig, Dale Missouri Osage 1996 2011 Murder Life without parole 15 37 White Male 2010 2010 01-17-2012 False Confession, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense H Yes PR, OF, WH, NW, PJ No
Hemme, Sandra Missouri Buchanan 1981 2024 Murder Life without parole 43 20 White Female 2024 12-17-2024 False Confession, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense F, H, P, IO No PR, OF, WH No
Hess, Walter Missouri Jefferson 1929 1930 Murder Term of Years 10 years 1 White Male 1930 Mistaken Witness ID No No
Jennings, Brad Missouri Dallas 2009 2018 Murder Term of Years 25 years 8 50 White Male 2018 07-17-2018 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Official Misconduct H, NC No OF, WH No
Kezer, Joshua Missouri Scott 1994 2009 Murder Term of Years 60 years 15 17 White Male 2007 2009 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, JI, JV Yes PR, WH Yes
Leap, Earnest Missouri Jackson 1992 2016 Child Sex Abuse Probation 0 31 White Male 2007 1992 08-22-2016 Perjury or False Accusation CV, NC, P, SA Yes No
Nash, Donald Missouri Dent 2009 2020 Murder Life without parole 11 39 White Male 2017 2020 10-28-2020 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense H Yes PR, OF, WH, NW, PL Yes
Revelle, George Missouri Christian 1996 1998 Murder Life without parole 3 36 White Male 1998 04-01-2013 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Official Misconduct H No OF, WH No
Reynolds, Melvin Lee Missouri Buchanan 1979 1983 Murder Life 4 24 White Male 1983 False Confession, Official Misconduct No No
Smith, Codey Missouri Barton 2008 2012 Robbery Term of Years 16 years 4 21 White Male 2010 2012 06-02-2017 Perjury or False Accusation, Inadequate Legal Defense JI Yes No
Stallings, Patricia Missouri Jefferson 1991 1991 Murder Life 0 24 White Female 1991 08-29-2011 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Inadequate Legal Defense CV, F, H, NC No No
Stewart, Zackary Lee Missouri Greene 2008 2010 Murder Life without parole 3 18 White Male 2010 08-29-2011 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct H, JI No OF, WH Yes
Strughold, James Missouri St. Louis 1997 1999 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 30 days 0 53 White Male 1997 09-22-2015 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CSH, CV, M, NC, SA No OF, CW, NW, WT No
Taff, Maurice Missouri St. Louis 1931 1932 Robbery Term of Years 10 years 1 19 White Male 1932 Mistaken Witness ID, False Confession No No
White, Theodore Jr. Missouri Jackson 1999 2005 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 50 years 6 35 White Male 2005 08-29-2011 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CV, NC, SA No PR, OF, WH No
Wilkerson, Mike Missouri Jasper 2000 2017 Sexual Assault Not Sentenced 17 39 White Male 2017 07-05-2017 Mistaken Witness ID, False Confession, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CV, P, SA No OF, NW Yes
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 Yes OF, NW, WT, INT No
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 No PR, WH No
York, Kenneth Missouri Vernon 1994 2010 Sexual Assault Life without parole 16 38 White Male 2010 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct SA No PR, WH Yes