Kenneth Ireland served 21 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. After the discovery of exculpatory DNA, prosecutors dropped all charges against Ireland. Unfortunately, Ireland was not cleared until after he was tried and convicted of raping and murdering Barbara Pelkey. Pelkey was a 30 year-old mother of four who was found dead at the Wallingford manufacturing plant in 1986. In 1989, Ireland was convicted and sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Ireland always maintained his innocence. The Connecticut Innocence Project used DNA evidence from the original crime to exonerate Ireland. A re-test of the evidence proved that there was no way Ireland could have killed Pelkey.
Ireland always maintained his innocence. The Connecticut Innocence Project used DNA evidence from the original crime to exonerate Ireland. A re-test of the evidence proved that there was no way Ireland could have killed Pelkey.
Ireland is now 39 years old. He has spent his whole adult life incarcerated. If James Tillman (wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years) was awarded $5 million from the state, Ireland will likely receive a similar amount. However, no sum, will bring back the twenty years that have been stolen.
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4 comments:
Thank goodness for these innocence programs!
Yes indeed! Good thing this guy wasn't on Deathrow..20 years might have been a little too late!
I can't imagine spending that much time in jail knowing I was innocent and with no hope of getting out ... HELL, sounds like this.
Poor guy!
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