Illinois Innocence Project

Keith Harris, the first inmate helped by the Illinois Innocence Project, was wrongfully convicted and spent 22 years in prison despite the lack of physical evidence tying him to the crime, as well as being misidentified by the victim after seven line-ups in which he appeared.[8] Following Keith's conviction, Girvies Davis and Richard Holman confessed to the crime, and the investigation resulted in new ballistics evidence that supported his innocence.

In 2003, Keith received a full pardon from then Governor Ryan. Keith's pardon is a full pardon, based on actual innocence. His criminal record was expunged.[9]

On October 13, 1997, Julie Rea-Harper's 10-year-old son, Joel, was stabbed to death in the middle of the night by an intruder in the small town of Lawrenceville, Illinois.[10]

Though she had no apparent motive,[11] Julie was indicted on Oct. 12, 2000 on capital murder charges by a special prosecutor. The prosecution's case rested largely on the testimony of bloodstain pattern analysis experts analyzing a very small amount of blood found on Rea Harper's shirt.[11] Another bloodstain pattern analysis expert called by the defense disputed this interpretation.[11] Defended by a lone public defender and outmatched by three opposing prosecutors, Julie was convicted on March 4, 2002, and sentenced to serve 65 years in prison.

On October 24, 2003, the Illinois Innocence Project presented compelling evidence corroborating the confession of Tommy Lynn Sells.[11] The defense's forensic consultant also disputed the testimony of the prosecution's bloodstain pattern analysis expert, stating that there was no scientific basis for his claims.[11] Rea Harper also testified in her own defense.[11]

As she was set to take her first step out of prison, prosecutors re-arrested Julie, ignoring overwhelming evidence that she was innocent. Supporters quickly rallied and raised $75,000 in less than a week's time to secure her release on bond. Instead of seeking justice as new Supreme Court rules require, prosecutors sought to convict her again.

On July 26, 2006, a jury in Carlyle found Julie not guilty of killing her son.[12]

On July 6, 1986, newlyweds Dyke and Karen Rhoades were repeatedly stabbed and murdered and their home was set on fire in Paris, Illinois. In 1987, Herbert Whitlock and Randy Steidl were arrested and convicted based on the testimony of Deborah Reinbolt and Darrell Herrington.[13][14]

While Randy Steidl was convicted on both murder counts, Herb was convicted of only killing Karen. Randy received the death penalty, while Herb received a life sentence. Both men continued to claim their innocence.[14]

In 2000, because of new evidence, the Illinois State Police reopened the case, assigning Lt. Michale Callahan to head the investigation. Callahan found numerous inconsistencies and evidence of misconduct that ultimately led him to conclude that the wrong men had been convicted of the murders. When he reported back to his superiors, he was told that the case was "too politically sensitive" and to drop the investigation. His story can be read in his book, Too Politically Sensitive.[15] Both Herb and Randy continued to pursue appeals and were repeatedly denied until Randy's case was heard by a federal court judge, who ordered a new trial. After intensive review of Randy's case, Attorney General Lisa Madigan dropped all charges against him and he was released in May 2004. Whitlock was released in January 2008.[16][17]

On August 24, 2000, two different shootings occurred in Aurora, Illinois. On August 25, 2000, police interviewed the surviving victim, Leroy Starks, who identified Jonathan Moore from a photo-lineup as the person who shot him and Shaun Miller, the other victim.[18] On August 26, Aurora Police brought in Jonathan Moore on an unrelated traffic stop and questioned him several times about the shooting at the Laundromat. Ultimately he was charged, tried and convicted of murder and two counts of attempted murder following a jury trial in the circuit court of Kane County. He was sentenced to 60 years.

On January 1, 2011, another shooting occurred in Aurora that shed new light on Jonathan's case. In 2011, after receiving information from a new witness associated with Moore's case, the Aurora Police Department reopened their investigation. Teaming up with the Illinois Innocence Project and the Kane County State's Attorney, the parties were able to interview witnesses, new and old, discovering evidence that discredited the two key witnesses against Moore and established his innocence. On March 6, 2012, Jonathan Moore walked out of the Kane County courthouse as a free man for the first time, completely exonerated of his wrongful conviction in 2002.[19][20]

In 1998, Anthony Murray was wrongfully convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 45 years in prison.[21] After the Marion County Associate Judge ruled that Murray had received ineffective assistance of counsel, Murray's case was reexamined. Students working with the Illinois Innocence Project reviewed Murray's case and discovered that his attorney knowingly called a witness that would incriminate his client, leading the Marion County Associate Judge to vacate Murray's conviction.

To gain full freedom, however, Murray was forced to accept a plea to second-degree murder and was released on time served. His Alford Plea, allowing him to gain freedom by pleading to a lesser crime while still maintaining that he was innocent of all charges, allowed Murray to return home to his mother and family, but it certainly left a stain on what the Illinois Innocence Project feels should have been a complete exoneration, clearing Murray of all charges.[22]

Peggy Jo Jackson was granted clemency in 2013 for her conviction of murder.[23]

Christopher Abernathy was convicted of sexual assault and murder in 1987 and given a life sentence.[24]

After serving 28 years in state prison, Abernathy was released from Stateville Correctional Center.[25]

Angel Gonzalez was exonerated after serving more than 20 years of a 55-year sentence for rape and kidnapping, but was not freed immediately because he had been sentenced to three more years for breaking a sink while serving the original sentence for his wrongful conviction.[26]

In light of his wrongful conviction being overturned, Immigration and Customs Enforcement canceled Gonzalez's detainer, which would have required him to be turned over to ICE after his sentence was served.[27]