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: 39
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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
Biddings, Darrell Fed-IL 1975 1976 Kidnapping Not Sentenced 1 21 Black Male 1976
Bolden, Abraham Fed-IL (Northern) 1964 2022 Bribery Term of Years 6 years 3 29 Black Male 1965 1967 05-06-2022
Burnside, Thomas Fed-IL (Northern) 1991 1994 Drug Possession or Sale Not Sentenced 2 41 Black Male 1994 12-08-2014
Catton, James Fed-IL (Central) 1994 2004 Fraud Term of Years 1 year and 9 months 0 43 White Male 1994 10-06-2014
Clark, Donald Iowa Johnson 2010 2016 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 25 years 6 35 White Male 2015 2016 08-31-2016
Cox, Terry Sr. Iowa Woodbury 1997 2001 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 25 years 4 27 White Male 1999 2001 07-19-2012
Davis, Anthony Iowa Pottawattamie 1990 1992 Sexual Assault Not Sentenced 0 20 Black Male 1990 10-22-2014
Davis, Rennie Fed-IL (Northern) 1970 1973 Other Nonviolent Felony Term of Years 5 years and $5,000 fine 0 28 White Male 1970 02-11-2023
Dellinger, David Fed-IL (Northern) 1970 1973 Other Nonviolent Felony Term of Years 5 years and $5,000 fine 0 52 White Male 1970 02-11-2023
DeSimone, David Iowa Clinton 2005 2012 Sexual Assault Term of Years 15 years 7 45 White Male 2012 12-30-2013
Engberg-Lehmer, Teresa Iowa Pottawattamie 1997 1998 Manslaughter Term of Years 15 years 1 24 White Female 1998 07-29-2012
Esse, Eric Iowa Cerro Gordo 2003 2006 Murder Life without parole 3 33 White Male 2006 07-18-2013
Frese, George Alaska Fairbanks 1999 2015 Murder Term of Years 40 years 17 20 Native American Male 2000 2015 12-24-2015
Gregory, Wassillie Alaska Bethel 2014 2015 Harassment Probation 0 48 Native American Male 2014 05-26-2015
Griffin, Codell Fed-IL (Northern) 1991 1994 Drug Possession or Sale Not Sentenced 3 41 Black Male 1994 12-08-2014
Hall, James Iowa Johnson 1974 1984 Murder Term of Years 50 years 11 Black Male 1985
Hannon, Donald Iowa Pottawattamie 1990 1992 Sexual Assault Not Sentenced 0 18 Black Male 1990 10-22-2014
Harrington, Terry Iowa Pottawattamie 1978 2003 Murder Life 25 17 Black Male 1991 2003 08-29-2011
Hayden, Thomas Fed-IL (Northern) 1970 1973 Other Nonviolent Felony Term of Years 5 years and $5,000 fine 0 28 White Male 1970 02-11-2023
Hoffman, Abbie Fed-IL (Northern) 1970 1973 Other Nonviolent Felony Term of Years 5 years and $5,000 fine 0 29 White Male 1970 02-11-2023
Imafidon, Julius Iowa Polk 2000 2002 Other Nonviolent Misdemeanor Probation 0 34 Black Male 2000 04-17-2019
Leckington, Mark Iowa Scott 2004 2008 Other Nonviolent Felony Term of Years 20 years 1 38 White Male 2005 11-07-2022
Lehmer, Joel Iowa Pottawattamie 1997 1998 Manslaughter Term of Years 15 years 1 32 White Male 1998 07-29-2012
Linehan, Mechele Alaska Anchorage 2007 2012 Murder Life 99 years 3 23 White Female 2010 01-10-2013
Locke, Ruben Fed-IL (Northern) 1998 2000 Drug Possession or Sale Not Sentenced 0 35 Black Male 1998 08-29-2011
McGhee, Curtis Iowa Pottawattamie 1978 2011 Murder Life 25 17 Black Male 1991 2003 05-29-2013
Pease, Kevin Alaska Fairbanks 1999 2015 Murder Term of Years 60 years 16 19 Native American Male 2000 2015 12-24-2015
Rhoades, Nick Iowa Black Hawk 2009 2014 Other Violent Felony Term of Years 25 years 0 33 White Male 2009 10-09-2014
Roberts, Marvin Alaska Fairbanks 1999 2015 Murder Term of Years 33 years 16 19 Native American Male 2000 2015 12-24-2015
Rubin, Jerry Fed-IL (Northern) 1970 1973 Other Nonviolent Felony Term of Years 5 years and $5,000 fine 0 30 White Male 1970 02-11-2023
Ruiz-Cortez, Refugio Fed-IL (Northern) 1999 2010 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 17 1/2 years 10 29 Hispanic Male 2010 11-06-2012
Seeland, Benjamin Alaska Sitka 2014 2015 Assault Term of Years 2 months 0 32 White Male 2014 06-11-2015
Sinegal, Layo Alaska Petersburg 1995 2000 Sexual Assault Term of Years 5 years 2 37 Black Male 1997 08-29-2011
Smith, Tammy Iowa Humboldt 2007 2011 Child Abuse Term of Years 10 years 4 32 White Female 2011 01-23-2014
Tracy, Ronald Iowa Jackson 1989 1992 Sexual Assault Term of Years 10 years 2 37 White Male 1992 1992 08-01-2019
Vent, Eugene Alaska Fairbanks 1999 2015 Murder Term of Years 38 years 16 17 Native American Male 2000 2015 12-24-2015
Weaver, Mary Iowa Marshall 1994 1997 Murder Life without parole 2 41 White Female 1996 07-29-2012
Weldon, Kyle Iowa Polk 2015 2017 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 31 days 0 21 White Male 2015 01-27-2017
West, Antonio Fed-IL (Northern) 2013 2016 Weapon Possession or Sale Term of Years 15 years 3 47 Black Male 2016 04-15-2016