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: 27
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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
Bowles, Joe North Carolina Surry 1919 1921 Murder Death 2 White Male 1921 09-30-2022 Perjury or False Accusation No No
Bridgeman, Walter North Carolina Davidson 1932 1935 Robbery Term of Years 15 years 2 20 White Male 1935 Official Misconduct No No
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 No OF, WH, NW, WT Yes
Britt, Timothy North Carolina Robeson 2013 2017 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 25 to 30 3/4 years 4 37 White Male 2013 2017 12-03-2017 False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CV, NC, SA Yes PR, OF, WH, NW, INT, PJ No
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 Yes PR, FA, WH, NW, PJ Yes
Clark, Carey North Carolina Avery 1996 1998 Murder Life 2 37 White Male 1998 1998 09-14-2015 Perjury or False Accusation H Yes No
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 No Yes
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 No Yes
Fowler, Victor North Carolina Davidson 1932 1935 Robbery Term of Years 15 years 2 19 White Male 1935 Official Misconduct No No
Gell, Alan North Carolina Bertie 1998 2004 Murder Death 6 20 White Male 2001 2004 08-29-2011 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, H Yes PR, OF, WH, NW, WT, PL No
Hefner, Cecil North Carolina Burke 1920 1921 Murder Term of Years 15 years 0 White Male 1921 Mistaken Witness ID No No
Horne, Joe North Carolina Davidson 1932 1935 Robbery Term of Years 15 years 2 20 White Male 1935 Official Misconduct No No
Kelly, Robert North Carolina Chowan 1992 1997 Child Sex Abuse Life 3 40 White Male 1995 08-29-2011 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CSH, CV, NC, SA No PR, OF, CW, WH, NW, WT, PJ No
Kendall, Hamp North Carolina Caldwell 1907 1917 Murder Term of Years 30 years 10 30 White Male 1917 Perjury or False Accusation No No
Langley, Gus North Carolina Buncombe 1932 1936 Murder Death 2 31 White Male 1934 Perjury or False Accusation No No
Palmer, Sylvian North Carolina Davidson 1932 1935 Robbery Term of Years 15 years 2 20 White Male 1935 Official Misconduct No No
Parker, Michael North Carolina Henderson 1994 2014 Child Sex Abuse Life 21 35 White Male 2010 2014 08-25-2014 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CSH, CV, IO, NC, SA Yes PR, CW, WH, NW, WT No
Pierpoint, Jonathan Scott North Carolina Madison 1992 2010 Child Sex Abuse Life 18 28 White Male 1996 2010 08-29-2011 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation CV, NC, IO, SA Yes No
Sawyer, Lonnie North Carolina Union 1975 1977 Kidnapping Term of Years 28 to 32 years 2 18 White Male 1977 Mistaken Witness ID No No
Sawyer, Sandy North Carolina Union 1975 1977 Kidnapping Term of Years 32 to 40 years 2 21 White Male 1977 Mistaken Witness ID No No
Shepard, Ann North Carolina New Hanover 1972 2012 Other Violent Felony Term of Years 15 years 5 33 White Female 1975 1978 11-17-2016 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, F, PH Yes PR, WH, NW, KP, WT No
Shreve, Thomas North Carolina Onslow 1988 1989 Threats Probation 0 31 White Male 1988 04-14-2015 M, NC No No
Small, Johnny North Carolina New Hanover 1989 2016 Murder Life 27 15 White Male 2012 2016 09-15-2016 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, H, IO, JV Yes PR, OF, WH, NW, KP, WT No
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 Yes PR, FA, WH, NW Yes
Vickers, John North Carolina Caldwell 1907 1917 Murder Term of Years 26 years 10 40 White Male 1917 Perjury or False Accusation No No
Waters, Leo North Carolina Onslow 1982 2003 Sexual Assault Life 21 30 White Male 2003 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID SA No Yes
Wilson, Kathryn Dawn North Carolina Chowan 1993 1997 Child Sex Abuse Life 3 22 White Female 1995 08-29-2011 False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CSH, CV, F, NC, SA No PR, OF, CW, WH, NW, WT No