After 17 years behind bars for a killing he has always said he did not commit, Detroit resident Dell Crawford walked out of custody yesterday, exonerated, after new DNA testing showed the biological material tied to the case belonged to other men, not him. A judge vacated Crawford’s conviction, dismissed the charges, and ordered his release the same day.
As reported by The Detroit News, the Cooley Innocence Project requested new testing of preserved evidence, and the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit joined the review. That joint effort led to the court action that cleared Crawford.
DNA Testing Turns the Case Upside Down
According to the Cooley Innocence Project, the retesting found a mixture of DNA from two men on a key item of evidence, and neither profile matched Crawford. Cooley says earlier testing had detected only the presence of male DNA without producing an identifiable profile, and that updated forensic methods allowed analysts to separate the mixture and conclusively exclude him.
Conviction Rested on Shifting Testimony
Crawford was convicted in the killing of Tatanisha “Joy” Williams, who prosecutors say was struck in the head and showed defensive wounds. The Detroit News reports that Crawford went to Williams’ home on Sept. 10, 2007, and that much of the original case leaned on a witness whose story changed multiple times, according to court filings.
What Comes Next for Crawford
With his conviction wiped away, Crawford can now seek relief available to exonerees under Michigan law, including potential claims under the state’s wrongful imprisonment statutes. Previous exonerations in Michigan have led to compensation awards, and the Michigan Attorney General’s office has signed off on such payments in other wrongful conviction cases, a track record legal advocates say is important for newly cleared defendants.
Cooley said the outcome adds to its record, noting that the project has secured 10 exonerations in roughly 25 years, and credited the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit for working collaboratively on the testing and review. The case highlights how advances in forensic science and conviction review efforts can unravel long-settled verdicts and completely change the course of a person’s life.
