Longest wrongful conviction in history: Glynn Simmons acquitted of murder after 48 years in prison
On June 5, 1975, Simmons was convicted in the murder of Carolyn Sue Rogers, who died after being shot during a liquor store robbery in Edmond, Olka.
Glynn Simmons, absuelto de asesinato | Captura de pantalla YouTube
Authorities said Glynn Simmons, a man who was convicted of murder in a liquor store robbery in 1975, has been exonerated after spending more than 48 years in prison. He holds the known record for the longest time spent in prison serving an unjust sentence, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.
The record explained that, in October 2023, Simmons filed a motion requesting a plea of not guilty and seeking compensation from the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma County District Court Judge Amy Palumbo issued a not guilty verdict on Dec. 19, 2023.
"This Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the offense for which Mr. Simmons was convicted, sentenced and imprisoned in the case at hand, including any lesser included offenses, was not committed by Mr. Simmons," Palumbo said in the decision.
On Sept. 19, 2023, Judge Palumbo granted a motion filed by the county attorney to dismiss the case. In July, he was released on bail until Tuesday, when he was declared innocent .
'A lesson in resilience'
On June 5, 1975, Simmons was sentenced for the murder of Carolyn Sue Rogers, who died after being shot during a liquor store robbery in Edmond, Okla. In July of that same year, he was sentenced to death. However, because the death penalty had been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1972, the Oklahoma Supreme Court decided in 1976 that all death penalty sentences prior to July 24, 1976, should be commuted to life imprisonment without possibility for parole.
Finally, in 2023, Oklahoma County Prosecutor Vicki Behenna concluded that prosecutors had violated Simmons' right to a fair trial by failing to provide his trial attorney with a crucial police report.
Simmons maintained, upon learning of the decision, that his case is a testament to resilience. "It’s a lesson in resilience and tenacity. When you know you’re innocent, stick with it and don’t ever stop. Don’t let nobody tell you it can’t happen, because it really can," Simmons said.
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