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: 30
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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
Abernathy, Christopher Illinois Cook 1987 2015 Murder Life without parole 28 17 White Male 2006 2015 02-13-2015
Andersen, Daniel Illinois Cook 1982 2015 Murder Term of Years 55 years 25 19 White Male 2007 08-15-2015
Antusas, Wayne Illinois Cook 1998 2021 Murder Life without parole 23 17 White Male 2000 2021 02-19-2021
Beaman, Alan W. Illinois McLean 1995 2009 Murder Term of Years 50 years 14 20 White Male 2009 08-29-2011
Bouto, Robert Illinois Cook 1996 2018 Murder Term of Years 45 years 19 17 White Male 2004 2015 07-02-2018
Burrows, Joseph Illinois Iroquois 1989 1996 Murder Death 5 35 White Male 1992 1994 08-29-2011
Cain, Jeremiah Illinois Cook 2001 2022 Murder Term of Years 25 years 21 23 White Male 2012 2022 08-25-2022
Cerami, Sean Illinois Cook 2012 2013 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 4 years 1 47 White Male 2013 06-08-2016
Dick, Steven Illinois Cook 1983 2001 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 6 months 1 18 White Male 1984 03-21-2013
Dotson, Gary Illinois Cook 1979 1989 Sexual Assault Term of Years 25 to 50 years 6 20 White Male 1985 1985 08-29-2011
Elsayed, Jessica Illinois Cook 2012 2013 Drug Possession or Sale Probation 0 21 White Female 2012 06-23-2016
Frye, Ralph Illinois Iroquois 1989 1996 Murder Term of Years 23 years 7 21 White Male 1993 1996 08-29-2011
Gauger, Gary Illinois McHenry 1993 1996 Murder Death 3 41 White Male 1996 08-29-2011
Gecht, David Illinois Cook 2000 2022 Murder Term of Years 45 years 22 18 White Male 2011 2022 08-04-2022
Gray, Adam Illinois Cook 1996 2017 Murder Life without parole 21 14 White Male 2006 2017 05-12-2017
Janke, Joseph Illinois Cook 2015 2023 Attempted Murder Term of Years 60 years 7 22 White Male 2013 2022 07-18-2023
Kluppelberg, James Illinois Cook 1989 2012 Murder Life 23 18 White Male 2007 2012 05-31-2012
McCullough, Jack Illinois DeKalb 2012 2016 Murder Life 4 18 White Male 2013 2016 05-02-2016
Melock, Robert Illinois Lake 1989 2024 Murder Death 35 22 White Male 2024 01-02-2025
Moran, Nakiya Illinois Cook 2009 2017 Attempted Murder Term of Years 62 years 7 17 White Male 2017 06-06-2018
Morfin, Nicholas Illinois Cook 1997 2021 Murder Life without parole 24 17 White Male 2000 2021 02-08-2021
Prete, Jennifer Del Illinois Will 2005 2022 Murder Term of Years 20 years 9 31 White Female 2014 10-13-2022
Rea, Julie Illinois Lawrence 2002 2006 Murder Term of Years 65 years 2 28 White Female 2004 08-29-2011
Shannon, Mason Illinois LaSalle 2018 2024 Manslaughter Not Sentenced 0 42 White Male 2018 07-15-2024
Sopron, Matthew Illinois Cook 1998 2018 Murder Life without parole 21 22 White Male 2000 2018 12-31-2018
Steidl, Gordon Illinois Edgar 1987 2004 Murder Death 17 35 White Male 1988 2004 08-29-2011
Whitlock, Herbert Illinois Edgar 1987 2008 Murder Life 21 39 White Male 1988 2008 08-29-2011
Williams, Herman Illinois Lake 1994 2022 Murder Life without parole 29 29 White Male 2022 09-26-2022
Woidtke, Rodney Illinois St. Clair 1989 2001 Murder Term of Years 45 years 12 27 White Male 2001 08-29-2011
Wynn, Morris Illinois Cook 2005 2006 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 8 years 2 21 White Male 2006 08-29-2011