Conviction review
Convictions that were overturned, and innocence claims courts are ruling on this week. Read what the evidence was and where it broke.
Murder of Chaskel Werzberger
On February 8, 1990, Chaskel Werzberger, a 56-year-old rabbi, was shot and killed in Brooklyn, New York. David Ranta was wrongfully convicted of the murder, and served 23 years in prison before being released in 2013.
2026 · Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New YorkIn courtMatter of Gianna A.
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York issued an opinion on November 13, 2026 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…With respect to the alleged "new evidence" of actual innocence cited by respondent, that "evidence" existed…”
1963 · New YorkOverturnedGeorge Whitmore Jr.
George Whitmore Jr. (May 26, 1944 – October 8, 2012) was an African American man who was charged but later cleared of the infamous Career Girls Murders that occurred in New York City in 1963. "The Supreme Court cited Mr.
1969 · New YorkOverturnedDhoruba bin Wahad
Dhoruba al-Mujahid bin Wahad (born Richard Earl Moore on June 30, 1944) is an American political activist and author, former leader of the New York Black Panther Party, and member of the Black Liberation Army. He was one of the Panther 21 defendants charged in 1969 with conspiracy to attack New York City police stations. After a lengthy trial, the Panther 21 were exonerated.
1948 · New YorkOverturnedBetty Tyson
Betty Tyson (née Dove) (June 29, 1948 – August 17, 2023) was a black woman known for her wrongful conviction in the murder of 52-year-old businessman Timothy Haworth in 1973 in Rochester, New York. Tyson, who was 24 at the time of her arrest, spent 25 years in prison, becoming New York State's longest-serving female inmate until her release on May 28, 1998. Her case prompted allegations of police misconduct, coerced…
2008 · New YorkOverturnedAdrian P. Thomas
Adrian P. Thomas was a father of seven children living in Troy, New York, when, in September 2008, his four-month-old son died. A preliminary medical examination indicated that the infant died from head trauma. The police interrogated Thomas for nearly 10 hours during which he confessed to throwing his son on the bed three times.
1992 · New YorkOverturned
Fernando Bermudez
Fernando Bermudez (born February 13, 1969) is a New York City resident who was exonerated in 2009 after being convicted in 1992 of the second-degree murder of a 16-year-old boy in New York City's Greenwich Village. He was sentenced to 23 years to life. In 2009, his conviction was overturned on appeal by a New York County Supreme Court justice who also ordered Bermudez released, and dismissed the charges with…
2007 · New YorkOverturnedLynn DeJac
Lynn DeJac Peters (November 20, 1963 – June 18, 2014) was an American woman from Buffalo, New York, who spent 13 years in prison for the murder of her daughter before her conviction was vacated in 2007, making her the first woman to be exonerated of murder on the basis of DNA evidence. She successfully sued the state of New York for wrongful conviction.
2024 · New YorkExonerated 2024Renay Lynch
In 2024, Renay Lynch was exonerated of a 1995 murder in Amherst, New York by DNA testing obtained by the Innocence Project.
2006 · New YorkExonerated 2006Douglas Warney
In 2006, Douglas Warney was released from prison after serving more than nine years for a murder he did not commit in Rochester, New York.
1996 · New YorkExonerated 1996Victor Ortiz
In 1984, Victor Ortiz was wrongly convicted of a rape he did not commit in New York. He was later exonerated in 1996.
2000 · New YorkExonerated 2000James O’Donnell
In 1998, James O'Donnell was wrongly convicted of attempted sodomy and second-degree assault in New York. He was later exonerated in 2000.
2016 · New YorkExonerated 2016Andre Hatchett
In 1992, Andre Hatchett was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit in New York. He was later exonerated in 2016.
2002 · New YorkExonerated 2002Hector Gonzalez
In 1996, Hector Gonzalez was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit in New York based on eyewitness misidentification.
2026 · New York Supreme Court, New York CountyIn courtPeople v. Ruiz
New York Supreme Court, New York County issued an opinion on April 27, 2026 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…conviction of an innocent person. To be sure, a wrongful conviction harms the entire justice system: it causes…”
2006 · New YorkExonerated 2006Scott Fappiano
On October 6, 2006, Scott Fappiano walked out of the Kings County Supreme Court as a free man after wrongly serving 21 years in prison.
2006 · New YorkExonerated 2006Jeffrey Deskovic
In 1990, 17-year old Jeffrey Deskovic was wrongfully convicted of a rape and murder in Peekskill, New York. He was exonerated by DNA in 2006.
1981 · New YorkExonerated 2016Clifford Jones
In 1981, Clifford Jones was wrongly convicted of a murder her did not commit in New York. He was later exonerated in 2016.
1991 · New YorkExonerated 1991Charles Dabbs
In 1984, Charles Dabbs was wrongly convicted of a rape he did not commit in New York. He was later exonerated in 1991.
1995 · New YorkExonerated 1995Terry Chalmers
In 1987, Terry Chalmers was wrongly convicted of a sexual assault he did not commit in New York. He was later exonerated in 1995.
1992 · New YorkExonerated 1992Leonard Callace
In 1987, Leonard Callace was wrongly convicted of the sexual assault of an 18-year-old nursing home aide in New York.
2007 · New YorkExonerated 2007Roy Brown
In 1992, Roy Brown was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit in New York. He was later exonerated in 2007.
2010 · New YorkExonerated 2010Frank Sterling
Frank Sterling served more than 17 years in prison before DNA testing obtained by the Innocence Project led to his exoneration in 2010.
2002 · New YorkExonerated 2002Raymond Santana
In 1990, Raymond Santana — a member of the Exonerated Five — was wrongly convicted of a rape and assault he did not commit in New York.