Illinois defendants exonerated after Gary Dotson in cases

involving post-trial recantations by prosecution witnesses

Source: National Registry of Exonerations as of April 23, 2016
Name

County

Crime / Year

Sentence / Year

Recantation

Exoneration

Abernathy, Christopher
Adams, Kenneth*
Anderson, Tyjuan
Barr, Jonathan
Brock, Donald
Burrows, Joe
Casciaro, Mario
Catron, Xavier
Chatmon, Timothy
Coleman, Christopher
Cruz, Rolando
Ellis, Bernard
Fields, Nathson
Frye, Ralph
Gardner, Lewis
Hampton, Patrick
Harden, James
Harper, Maurice
Hernandez, Alejandro
Hobley, Madison
Holland, Dana
Hood, Tyrone
Jimenez, Thaddeus
Jimerson, Verneal
Johnson, Anthony
Johnson, Juan
Johnson, Lumont
Kitchen, Ronald
Kuppelberg, Jmes
Nash, Alprentiss
Nelson, Terry Lee
Ollins, Calvin
Ollins, Larry
Patrick, Deon
Patterson, Aaron
Patterson, Maurice
Phillips, Paul
Porter, Anthony
Rainge, Willie
Reeves, Marvin
Rivera, Jacques
Ross, Anthony
Sanders, Rodell
Santos, Edar
Saunders, Omar
Savory, Johnnie
Sharp, Shainnie

Cook
Cook
Winnebago
Cook
Cook
Iroquois
McHenry
Cook
Winnebago
Peoria
DuPage
Cook
Cook
Iroquois
Cook
Cook
Cook
Jackson
DuPage
Cook
Cook
Cook
Cook
Cook
Cook
Cook
Winnebago
Cook
Cook
Cook
St. Clair
Cook
Cook
Cook
Cook
Cook
Cook
Cook
Cook
Cook
Cook
Winnebago
Cook
Cook
Cook
Peoria
Cook

Murder 84
Murder 78
Murder 02
Murder 97
Theft 87
Murder 88
Murder 02
Murder 92
Murder 89
Rape 94
Murder 83
Murder 91
Murder 84
Murder 88
Murder 92
Sex Assault 81
Murder 91
Murder 02
Murder 83
Murder 87
Rape 93
Murder 93
Murder 93
Murder 78
Murder 03
Murder 89
Murder 02
Murder 88
Murder 84
Murder 95
Murder 88
Murder 86
Murder 86
Murder 92
Murder 86
Murder 02
Murder 92
Murder 82
Murder 78
Murder 88
Murder 88
Murder 02
Murder 93
Murder 97
Murder 86
Murder 77
Murder 91

Life 87
75 years 78
50 years 02
85 years 97
None 89
Death* 89
26 years 13
35 years 92
35 years 90
60 years 95
Death 85
55 years 96
Death 86
23 years 89
30 years 95
60 years
89 years 95
25 years 02
Death 85
Death 90
28 years 95
75 years 96
50 years 94
Death 85
47 years 07
30 years 91
50 years 02
Death 90
Life 89
80 years 97
40 years 89
Life 88
Life 88
Life 95
Death 98
39 years 03
30 years 95
Death 83
Life 78
Life 91
80 years 90
50 years 04
80 years 95
12 years 02
Life 88
50-100 years 77
20 years 94

2002
1994
2015
2010
1989
1992
2014
1996
1990
2007
1995
1996
Unknown
1993
2001
2011
2010
Unknown
1995
1996
2003
2008
2006
1994
2012
2003
2015
2002
2007
2010
1990
2001
2001
2001
2001
2010
2001
1998
1994
2002
2010
2015
2008
2002
2001
1983
2010

2015
1996
2015
2011
1989
1996
2016
2000
1995
2014
1995
2001
2009
1996
2014
2011
2011
2007
1995
2003
2003
2015
2009
1996
2014
2004
2015
2009
2012
2012
1994
2001
2001
2003
2010
2010
2014
1999
1995
2009
2011
2015
2014
2003
2001
2015
2011

Simon, Alstory***
Steidl, Gordon (Randy)
Strong, Jason
Taylor, Daniel
Taylor, Robert
Veal, Robert
Washington, Wayne
Whitlock, Herb
Wilson, Robert
Winston, Michael
Wrice, Stanley

Cook
Edgar
Lake
Cook
Cook
Cook
Cook
Edgar
Cook
Cook
Cook

Murder 82
Murder 86
Murder 99
Murder 92
Murder 91
Murder 91
Murder 93
Murder 86
Att Murder 97
Murder 05
Rape 82

37 years 99
Death 87
46 years 00
Life 95
80 years 97
20 years 94
25 years 96
Life 87
30 years 99
40 years 07
Life 83

2005
1988
2010
2001
2010
2010
2008
1988
2006
2007
2011

2014
2004
2015
2013
2011
2011
2015
2008
2006
2012
2013

* The Registry tracks post-trial recantations. The recanting witness in the case of Adams and codefendants Verneal Jimerson, Willie Rainge, and Dennis Williams known collectively as the Ford
Heights Four initially recanted pre-trial in 1978. As a result, she was convicted of perjury and
sentenced to prison. After Rainge and Williams won new trials, she withdrew her recantation, reverting to
her original inculpatory version of what happened. She again recanted in 1994 the recantation date
listed here.
** Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011.
*** Although Simon almost certainly is guilty, he qualifies as an exonerated defendant under the
Registrys principal criterion that he was restored to the status of legal innocence based on evidence
that was not presented in court before he pleaded guilty. For more information on Simons case, see
http://www.injusticewatch.org/commentary/2016/if-hes-guilty-it-cant-be-malicious-prosecution/.