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 Using the Registry for Research, 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: 51
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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
Abbitt, Joseph North Carolina Forsyth 1995 2009 Child Sex Abuse Life 14 31 Black Male 2009 09-01-2011
Alford, John North Carolina Mecklenburg 1975 1976 Murder Death 1 22 Black Male 1976 07-13-2022
Benton, John North Carolina Mecklenburg 1942 1943 Assault Term of Years 15 years 1 15 Black Male 1943 04-01-2021
Blackmon, James North Carolina Wake 1988 2019 Murder Life 32 26 Black Male 2019 09-03-2019
Bowles, Joe North Carolina Surry 1919 1921 Murder Death 2 White Male 1921 09-30-2022
Brown, Keith North Carolina Wilson 1993 1999 Sexual Assault Term of Years 35 years 4 25 Black Male 1997 08-29-2011
Brown, Knolly Jr. North Carolina Edgecomb 2009 2016 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 5 to 6 3/4 years 4 37 Black Male 2013 10-26-2016
Butler, Louise Alabama Lowndes 1928 1928 Murder Life 0 Black Female 1928
Carey, Anthony North Carolina Mecklenburg 1973 1974 Murder Death 1 20 Black Male 1974 10-05-2021
Clark, Carey North Carolina Avery 1996 1998 Murder Life 2 37 White Male 1998 1998 09-14-2015
Cotton, Ronald North Carolina Alamance 1985 1995 Sexual Assault Life 10 22 Black Male 1995 08-29-2011
Crotts, Mark North Carolina Alamance 1992 1997 Murder Life without parole 2 21 White Male 1994 11-21-2024
Dail, Dwayne Allen North Carolina Wayne 1989 2007 Child Sex Abuse Life 18 17 White Male 2007 08-29-2011
Deakle, Evan Lee Jr. Alabama Mobile 2015 2015 Child Sex Abuse Not Sentenced 0 59 White Male 2015 12-15-2015
Drinkard, Gary Alabama Morgan 1995 2001 Murder Death 6 37 White Male 2001 08-29-2011
Embry, Anthony Alabama Jefferson 1993 1997 Murder Term of Years 20 years 4 23 Black Male 1997 10-24-2013
Evans, Timothy North Carolina Durham 2009 2024 Murder Term of Years 45 years 13 18 Black Male 2020 2022 03-07-2024
Gaines, Freddie Lee Alabama Jefferson 1974 1991 Murder Term of Years 30 years 11 22 Black Male 1985 08-29-2011
Garner, Terence North Carolina Johnston 1998 2002 Attempted Murder Term of Years 32 to 43 years 4 16 Black Male 1998 2002 08-29-2011
Grant, Israel North Carolina Mecklenburg 2007 2019 Robbery Term of Years 18 1/2 to 23 7/8 years 8 19 Black Male 2014 2016 02-04-2019
Grimes, Willie North Carolina Catawba 1988 2012 Sexual Assault Life 24 41 Black Male 2012 10-08-2012
Gurley, Timothy Alabama Madison 2000 2002 Attempted Murder Term of Years 35 years 2 22 White Male 2002 2002 07-05-2016
Hefner, Cecil North Carolina Burke 1920 1921 Murder Term of Years 15 years 0 White Male 1921
Hinton, Anthony Alabama Jefferson 1986 2015 Murder Death 29 29 Black Male 2015 04-09-2015
Holemon, Jeffrey Alabama Tuscaloosa 1988 1999 Sexual Assault Life 11 23 White Male 1999 08-29-2011
Holsomback, John Alabama Shelby 1988 2000 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 25 years 10 33 White Male 1998 12-30-2015
Hunt, Darryl North Carolina Forsyth 1987 1990 Murder Term of Years 40 years 0 18 Black Male 1987 12-30-2023
Hunt, H. Guy Alabama Montgomery 1993 1998 Official Misconduct Probation 0 54 White Male 1993 08-29-2011
Jones, Lydia Diane Alabama Jefferson 2000 2006 Drug Possession or Sale Life without parole 6 40 Black Female 2006 08-24-2014
Jordan, William E. Alabama Geneva 1934 1934 Murder Term of Years 25 years 1 65 Don't Know Male 1934 07-16-2019
Langley, Gus North Carolina Buncombe 1932 1936 Murder Death 2 31 White Male 1934
Mahan, Dale Alabama Jefferson 1986 1998 Sexual Assault Term of Years 35 years 11 22 White Male 1997 08-29-2011
Mahan, Ronnie Alabama Jefferson 1986 1998 Sexual Assault Life without parole 11 26 White Male 1997 08-29-2011
McEachern, Toney North Carolina Robeson 1993 1998 Child Sex Abuse Life 5 34 Black Male 1994 1998 09-02-2015
McInnis, Edward North Carolina Scotland 1988 2015 Sexual Assault Life 27 27 Black Male 2015 08-15-2015
Moreno, Noe North Carolina Mecklenburg 2007 2012 Murder Term of Years 18 to 22 years 5 26 Hispanic Male 2012 09-03-2012
Pierpoint, Jonathan Scott North Carolina Madison 1992 2010 Child Sex Abuse Life 18 28 White Male 1996 2010 08-29-2011
Quick, Wesley Alabama Jefferson 1997 2003 Murder Death 6 18 White Male 2003 08-29-2011
Sealie, Frank Alabama Jefferson 2014 2015 Murder Life without parole 1 23 Black Male 2014 2015 03-17-2015
Shaw, Willie Jr. North Carolina Mecklenburg 2016 2021 Other Violent Felony Term of Years 8 2/3 to 11 5/12 5 43 Black Male 2019 2021 02-16-2021
Shelton, Horace North Carolina Buncombe 2012 2014 Forgery Term of Years 10 7/12 to 13 1/2 years 2 51 Black Male 2014 11-28-2016
Shreve, Thomas North Carolina Onslow 1988 1989 Threats Probation 0 31 White Male 1988 04-14-2015
Smith, Sylvester North Carolina Brunswick 1984 2004 Child Sex Abuse Life 20 32 Black Male 2004 2004 08-29-2011
Smith, Zachary Noah Alabama Jefferson 2006 2012 Child Sex Abuse Probation 0 24 White Male 2012 2006 04-26-2013
Snipes, Steven North Carolina Lee 1998 2003 Robbery Term of Years 7 years and 6 months 5 35 Black Male 2003 08-29-2011
Spicer, Christopher North Carolina New Hanover 1973 1975 Murder Death 1 24 Don't Know Male 1975
Staten, Cleo Alabama Marshall 1920 1927 Murder Life 6 Black Male 1927
Ward, William Alabama Tuscaloosa 1975 1977 Manslaughter Term of Years 10 years 1 21 Black Male 1977
Waters, Leo North Carolina Onslow 1982 2003 Sexual Assault Life 21 30 White Male 2003 08-29-2011
White, George Alabama Coffee 1987 1992 Murder Life 2 36 White Male 1989 08-29-2011
Yelder, George Alabama Lowndes 1928 1928 Murder Life 0 55 Black Male 1928