TOO MANY WRONGFULLY CONVICTED - The Innocence Project

00200PERRY MITCHELL • 1998 DALE MAHAN • 1998 RONNIE MAHAN • 1998 ANTHONY GRAY • 1999 JOHN WILLIS • 199914.5 YEARS 11.5 YEARS 7 YEARS 7 YEARSS. CAROLINA 11.5 YEARSALABAMA ALABAMA MARYLAND ILLINOISIn the woods near Dale Mahan and his Along with his brother Police officers coaxed John Willis wasPerry Mitchell’s brother Ronnie were Dale, Ronnie Mahan Anthony Gray to convicted of two rapeshome, a young woman convicted for a 1983 was wrongfully confess to a 1991 rape and robberies among awas raped in 1982. rape and kidnapping. incarcerated for 11 and murder. Gray, who string of similar crimesMitchell was arrested The prosecution and a half years has limited cognitive in Chicago in 1990. Ina week later on the contended that Dale based on a rape and abilities, pled guilty 1994, Dennis McGrudergrounds that he Mahan raped the kidnapping victim’s and was convicted; was arrested for0somewhat fit the victim while Ronnie misidentification. he was sentenced to committing similardescription and lived watched. Although the Both brothers were two concurrent life rapes and robberies innearby. After viewing assailants had forced exonerated through sentences. Years later, the area. Willis assertedthree photo lineups, the victim to take DNA testing in 1998. DNA testing revealed a that McGruder hadthe victim misidentified drugs and they worematch with a new confessed to all of theMitchell as her masks during thesuspect who confessed crimes while the twoattacker. Based on attack, the victimto the crime, and Gray were in jail. SeveralCONVICTEDexculpatory DNA test identified the brotherswas exonerated. more years would passresults, Mitchell in a photo lineup.before DNA testingwas exonerated after Years later, DNA testingfreed Willis andmoreLLYthan 14 yearsCONVICTEDwas conducted onimplicated McGruder.in prison.the rape kit andshowed that bothbrothers were innocent.They were convicted in 31 statesMANY WRONGFULLY CONVICTEDTOO MANY WRONGFULLY CONVIC12 | Innocence Project