OKLAHOMA CITY — In a historic ruling, an Oklahoma judge has exonerated Glynn Simmons, who spent nearly 50 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. This makes him the longest-serving inmate to be declared innocent of a crime.
Simmons, 71, was released in July after prosecutors agreed that crucial evidence in his case was not disclosed to his defense lawyers. On Tuesday, Oklahoma County District Judge Amy Palumbo ruled him innocent, stating, “This court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the offense for which Mr. Simmons was convicted, sentenced and imprisoned … was not committed by Mr. Simmons.”
Having served 48 years, one month, and 18 days since his conviction, Simmons holds the unfortunate title of the longest imprisoned U.S. inmate to be exonerated, according to data kept by The National Registry of Exonerations.
Following the ruling, Simmons expressed feeling vindicated after his time in prison, which initially included being sentenced to death row. “It’s a lesson in resilience and tenacity,” Simmons said during a brief news conference. “Don’t let nobody tell you that it (exoneration) can’t happen, because it really can.”
Simmons has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming he was in Louisiana at the time of the 1974 slaying of Carolyn Sue Rogers inside an Edmond liquor store. He and co-defendant Don Roberts were both convicted in 1975 of the murder and initially sentenced to death. Their sentences were later reduced to life in prison in 1977 after U.S. Supreme Court rulings related to capital punishment. Roberts was released on parole in 2008.
In July, Palumbo ordered a new trial for Simmons after District Attorney Vicki Behenna admitted that prosecutors had failed to disclose evidence in the case, including a police report that showed an eyewitness might have identified other suspects in the case. Behenna later announced that there is no longer physical evidence in the case against Simmons and stated she would not retry him, although she opposed declaring him actually innocent.
The ruling now makes Simmons eligible for up to $175,000 in compensation from the state for wrongful conviction and opens the door for a federal lawsuit against Oklahoma City and law enforcement involved in Simmons’ arrest and conviction, according to defense attorney Joe Norwood. However, compensation is likely years away, and Simmons is currently living on donations while undergoing treatment for cancer that was detected after his release from prison.
“Glynn is having to live off of GoFundMe, that’s literally how the man is surviving right now, paying rent, buying food,” Norwood said. “Getting him compensation, and getting compensation is not for sure, is in the future and he has to sustain himself now.”
Finally justice served after such a long and unjust imprisonment. Hope this brings some closure to the innocent man and his family.
Finally, justice prevails after almost half a century of wrongful imprisonment. Heartbreaking and infuriating at the same time. #InnocenceConfirmed
Agree – Finally! It’s a relief to see the justice system correcting its mistakes and setting an innocent man free after all these years.