Philadelphia, PA: In 1987, Dawud “David” Turner was wrongly convicted and given a life sentence for a crime that he has always maintained he did not commit, the shooting death of Mario Martinez. No physical evidence ever implicated Mr. Turner. His arrest hinged solely on the identification of one eyewitness as well as the investigation…
Read MoreBREAKING: Christopher Ellis Exonerated After 11 Years
CHICAGO IL: In 2014, Christopher Ellis was wrongly convicted of aggravated battery against the police based on the testimony of two Chicago police officers who have engaged in a pattern of targeting Black people for harassment, physical abuse, and false arrest. After Mr. Ellis attempted to assert his rights, the two officers yanked him out…
Read MoreBREAKING: Frankfort Man John Brandon Lamotte Exonerated After Nearly 9 Years Wrongly Imprisoned
October 16, 2025 FRANKFORT, KY: John “Brandon” Lamotte was wrongfully convicted in 2019 for the alleged stabbing of his neighbor and friend Kate Sanders. Yesterday, after eight years of fighting to prove his innocence, the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeals’ 2023 reversal of his conviction. “Today has been a long time coming…
Read MoreFrank Drew Exonerated After 24 Years Wrongfully Incarcerated
On March 12, EP client Frank Drew was exonerated after spending 24 years wrongfully incarcerated for a 1996 homicide that he did not commit. Mr. Drew’s conviction was vacated and he was released following an evidentiary hearing in 2022, but he faced retrial for two years until the charges against him were dropped in March….
Read MoreC.J. Rice Exonerated After 12 Years Wrongfully Incarcerated
This morning, C.J. Rice was exonerated after spending 12 years incarcerated for a 2011 Philadelphia shooting that left four people injured. His case has received national attention since CNN Chief Correspondent Jake Tapper began reporting on the story in fall 2022, culminating in a 2022 piece for The Atlantic: “My Father’s Quest to Free C.J….
Read MoreFrank Burrell Exonerated After 20 Years Wrongfully Incarcerated
On Tuesday, March 5th, EP client Frank Burrell was exonerated after spending some 20 years wrongfully incarcerated and after years of hard-fought litigation, including facing retrial for the last four years after the Court of Appeals vacated Mr. Burrell’s conviction and ordered his release in 2019. The process was difficult. Mr. Burrell had to fight…
Read MoreHarold Staten Exonerated After 38 Years Wrongfully Incarcerated
Congratulations to Harold Staten on his exoneration yesterday! Mr. Staten was exonerated and released from the State Correctional Institution at Phoenix in Collegeville, PA last night after spending nearly 38 years imprisoned for a crime that never occurred. EP Attorney Amelia Maxfield represents Mr. Staten with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project and pro bono attorneys from…
Read MoreDarien Harris Exonerated 12 Years After Being Convicted Based on Blind Eyewitness’s Testimony
We are so excited to be able to say that on December 19, 2023, prosecutors decided not to move forward with a retrial against Mr. Harris and dropped all charges, thereby exonerating him. We applaud Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and her office for continuing their review of Mr. Harris’s case and ensuring that…
Read MoreJimmy Soto Exonerated, Becomes Longest Wrongfully Incarcerated Person in Illinois History
On December 14, 2023, EP client Jimmy Soto was exonerated after spending 42 years wrongfully incarcerated. Jimmy was exonerated alongside his cousin and co-defendant David Ayala – the men are now the longest wrongfully incarcerated persons in Illinois state history. They were convicted at ages 20 and 18 respectively of murders in which no physical…
Read MorePatrick Taylor Exonerated After 16 Years Imprisoned in Case Marred by Egregious Misconduct
Yesterday, EP client Patrick Taylor was exonerated after spending 16 years wrongfully imprisoned in a case marred by egregious misconduct. Mr. Taylor was convicted of a 2006 murder almost based solely on mistaken eyewitness testimony. Over the past several years, Mr. Taylor caught the State withholding exculpatory evidence. In April 2023, the misconduct unraveled when…
Read More