Conviction review
Convictions that were overturned, and innocence claims courts are ruling on this week. Read what the evidence was and where it broke.
Robert DuBoise
Robert Earl DuBoise (born October 1964) is an American who was wrongfully convicted in 1983 for the rape and murder of 19-year-old Barbara Grams in Tampa, Florida. He spent nearly 37 years in prison, including three years on death row, before being exonerated in August 2020 through DNA evidence facilitated by the Innocence Project and the Hillsborough County Conviction Review Unit. In 2024, DuBoise received a $14…
1968 · FloridaOverturned
James Joseph Richardson
James Joseph Richardson (December 26, 1935 – September 16, 2023) was an African-American man who was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in 1968 for the October 1967 mass murder of his seven children. They died after eating a poisoned breakfast containing the organic phosphate pesticide parathion. At the time of the murders, Richardson was a migrant farm worker in Arcadia, Florida living with his wife Annie…
2026 · Supreme Court of FloridaIn courtThomas M. Overton v. State of Florida & Thomas M. Overton v. Secretary, Department of Corrections
Supreme Court of Florida issued an opinion on November 13, 2026 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…is no such thing under Florida law as an “actual innocence” claim independent of newly discovered evidence…”
1974 · FloridaOverturnedDelbert Tibbs
Delbert Lee Tibbs (June 19, 1939 – November 23, 2013) was an American man who was wrongfully convicted of murder and rape in 1974 in Florida and sentenced to death. Later exonerated, Tibbs became a writer and anti-death penalty activist.
Year unknown · FloridaOverturnedHubert Nathan Myers and Clifford Williams
Hubert Nathan Myers and Clifford Williams are two African American men who were served 42 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of first degree murder and attempted murder due to eyewitness misidentification, ineffective assistance of counsel and official misconduct. They are the first exonerees freed based on an investigation by a Conviction Integrity Unit in Florida.
2026 · Court of Appeals for the Eleventh CircuitIn courtBrett Cormier v. Florida Department of Corrections
Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued an opinion on October 26, 2026 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…entitled to equitable tolling and the actual innocence exception for timeliness, these issues are…”
2026 · District Court of Appeal of FloridaIn courtHerman Lindsey v. State of Florida
District Court of Appeal of Florida issued an opinion on October 21, 2026 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…indicate verifiable and substantial evidence of actual innocence, and did not state with particularity the…”
2000 · FloridaExonerated 2000Frank Lee Smith
In 1986, Frank Lee Smith was wrongly convicted of a murder and rape in Florida. He was exonerated 11 months after his death in 2000.
2006 · FloridaExonerated 2006Alan Crotzer
In 2006, Alan Crotzer was freed from prison after post-conviction DNA testing proved his innocence of a 1981 rape, kidnapping, and robbery.
2007 · FloridaExonerated 2007Chad Heins
Nearly 11 years after he was wrongfully convicted of murdering his sister-in-law in northern Florida, Chad Heins was exonerated in 2007.
2004 · FloridaExonerated 2004Wilton Dedge
In 2004, eight years after he requested post-conviction DNA testing, Wilton Dedge was exonerated and released from a Florida prison.
2006 · FloridaExonerated 2006Orlando Boquete
In 2006, Orlando Boquete’s conviction for attempted sexual battery and burglary was vacated after DNA excluded him as the perpetrator.
2005 · FloridaExonerated 2005Luis Diaz
On August 3, 2005, Luis Diaz was released from Florida prison after serving 25 years for crimes he did not commit.
2004 · FloridaExonerated 2018Clemente Aguirre-Jarquin
Clemente Aguirre-Jarquin was wrongly convicted in the murders of 47-year-old Cheryl Williams and 68-year-old Carol Bareis.
2001 · FloridaExonerated 2001Jerry Frank Townsend
In 1980, Jerry Frank Townsend was wrongly convicted of several murders in Florida. He was later exonerated in 2001.
2020 · FloridaExonerated 2020Robert DuBoise
In 2020, Robert DuBoise was exonerated of a 1983 murder in Florida, nearly 37 years after he was arrested for a crime he did not commit.