DNA Frees Convict of 17 Years
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

August 27, 2002

Detroit - Eddie Joe Lloyd broke into tears yesterday as he talked about Michelle Jackson, the Detroit teenager whose brutal rape and murder in 1984 sent him to prison for 17 years.

A judge overturned Lloyd's conviction yesterday after DNA tests showed that he could not have killed the 16-year-old girl.

"If Michelle Jackson could have spoke from the grave, she would have told everybody Eddie Lloyd didn't do it," Lloyd said after he was freed.

Despite the lack of physical evidence, Lloyd was convicted in 1985 based heavily on a taped confession he made to Detroit police while he was in a mental hospital.

Lloyd said the officer who interviewed him indicated that his confession would help "flush out the real killer."

"I had no idea I would spend the next 17 years in prison," said Lloyd, 54.

Yesterday, Lloyd hugged his sisters and talked about finally meeting his grandchildren. "I want to run the 50- or 100-yard dash with my grandbabies," Lloyd said.

Lloyd is the 110th convicted person in the United States and the first in Michigan to be exonerated by DNA testing, according to the Innocence Project, a New York-based organization that has helped free many prisoners based on DNA evidence.

The genetic evidence in Jackson's slaying was gathered from objects found at the crime scene, as well as from evidence slides discovered three weeks ago, said Barry Scheck, an attorney with the Innocence Project. The DNA doesn't match any samples in the FBI's database, meaning Lloyd could not have committed the crime.
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How horrible to spend 17 years in prison for a crime one did not commit.

It is really a blessing that DNA is able to exonerate such wrongfully convicted individuals. The Innocence Project is doing a wonderful job.

Makes one wonder how many other innocent people sit behind bars--or, even worse, how many might have been executed.

In reply to:

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Makes one wonder how many other innocent people sit behind bars--or, even worse, how many might have been executed.

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Probably quite a few. If he is the 110th to be exonerated and released, I shudder to think of how many were put to death.

In my opinion, the cop that flat out lied to this man to get a confession should spend 17 years in prison.

If anyone is interested in learning more about the Innocence Project go to:

http://innocenceproject.com/

They need public support to continue their work. Just decrying the wrongful conviction of the innocent really isn't enough. DNA testing is expensive--so are court costs. Although the lawyers work pro bono, many other expenses are incurred and, in particular, indigent convicts cannot afford these costs.

That site also contains interesting general information on the status of DNA in forensic work.