After spending 48 years, one month and 18 days in prison, American Glenn Simmons was acquitted of murder on Wednesday.
According to the National Registry of Exonerations, which tracks the length of sentences given to wrongly convicted felons, no person has been wrongfully held in prison in the United States for longer.
Simmons, now 70, and another defendant were convicted in 1975 of killing store employee Carolyn Sue Rogers during a robbery of a liquor store in Edmond, Oklahoma.
The couple were originally sentenced to death. The sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment, he wrote New York times. The conviction was based on the testimony of an eyewitness who later contradicted himself.
An Oklahoma judge said Wednesday that “clear and convincing evidence” showed that the crime for which Simmons was in prison did not commit. The co-suspect was released on parole in 2008.
Simmons was released in July, but has now been officially declared innocent.
“A lesson in resilience and perseverance”
“It’s a lesson in resilience and perseverance,” Simmons said of his case in a news conference after the ruling. “Don’t let anyone tell you this can’t happen, because it really can happen.”
His lawyer said that the ruling paves the way for compensation of approximately 160,000 euros. Simmons, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, has been living largely on donations.
“He wasn’t able to gain work experience and build a career,” Norwood said. “All of that was taken from him.”
James Anderson is a contributor at Houstonian Online, covering news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. He focuses on clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about current events, emerging trends, and stories that matter to local and broader communities.