Wrongful Convictions

A 2021 Missouri law expanded claims of "actual innocence" beyond death penalty cases. It led to the release of Chris Dunn and others wrongfully convicted.

Sandra Hemme spent 43 years in a Missouri prison for a murder she did not commit. Some estimates suggest that a false confession played a role in almost a third of wrongful murder convictions.

In June, a judge overturned Hemme’s conviction for the 1980 murder of a librarian from St. Joseph, Missouri. After five months of legal battles, the same judge signed the final order granting her freedom.

The Missouri Court of Appeals Tuesday rejected all arguments from state Attorney General Andrew Bailey to return Hemme to prison. Hemme served 43 years in prison — more time than any other wrongly convicted woman in the U.S.

“I still feel like a child being reborn into a world in which I've lost all contact,” Chris Dunn said.

Christopher Dunn was released from a Missouri prison after being wrongfully incarcerated for 34 years.

Christopher Dunn, who a judge ruled was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for more than 30 years, remains in prison after a series of court rulings on Wednesday.

His family members say they’re holding their breath awaiting his release after Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office expressed plans to appeal the decision.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office plans to appeal, which would likely block Dunn’s release.

Christopher Dunn is serving a life sentence for the 1990 murder of Ricco Rogers. But two adolescent eyewitnesses have recanted, and prosecutors say they no longer believe that Dunn is guilty.