TOO MANY WRONGFULLY CONVICTED - The Innocence Project

MICHAEL MERCER • 200310.5 YEARSNEW YORKMichael Mercer wasmisidentified in therape of a 17-year-oldgirl when the victimONVICTEDsaw Mercer in herbuilding two monthsafter the attack. In2000, DNA testing wasfinally conducted andfound a match — notto Mercer, but to aconvicted rapist whocould not be chargedbecause the statute oflimitations had expired.PAUL KORDONOWY • 200313 YEARSMONTANAPaul Kordonowy wasexonerated for a 1990rape conviction afterDNA testing proved hisinnocence. At his trial,the former head of theMontana ForensicScience Laboratory,Arnold Melnikoff,testified falsely thathairs found at thecrime scene matchedKordonowy. Kordonowyremains in prison foranother rape charge towhich he pled guilty.KENNETH WYNIEMKO20038.5 YEARSMICHIGANA Michigan rape victimtold police that she hadlittle opportunity to viewher assailant. But theyasked her to help preparea composite sketch,which she said wasabout 60% accurate.Police targeted KennethWyniemko because heresembled the sketch.He was convicted andsentenced to 40-60years in prison. Nineyears later, DNA provedhis innocence. Today,FULLY CONVICTEDWyniemko — joined byhis Cooley InnocenceProject attorneys andthe prosecuting attorneyin his case — educatesthe public aboutwrongful convictions.MICHAEL EVANS • 200326 YEARSILLINOISMichael Evansserved 26 years of a400-year sentence forthe murder, rape andkidnapping of a younggirl before DNA testingexonerated him. Aneighborhood woman,responding to a rewardoffer of $5,000 forhelping identify thekiller, implicatedEvans. He and hisco-defendant, PaulTerry, were teenagerswhen they wereconvicted.PAUL TERRY • 200326 YEARSILLINOISBased on a false tip ofa neighborhood woman,detectives beganasking local AfricanAmerican teenagersabout the rape andmurder of a nine-yearoldgirl. Paul Terrywas identified in aline-up by the woman,who claimed to havebeen a witness to thestruggle. Although herwork timecard showedshe could not havewitnessed the crime,prosecutors continuedtheir case againstTerry and MichaelEvans. The two serveda combined total of 52years in prison beforeDNA testing provedthem innocent.And 35% of those who falsely confessedwere 18 years old or younger28 | Innocence Project