Instructions for Using the Registry

The table below shows all individual exonerations. By default, the table is set to show exonerations from 1989 through the present. Check "Pre-1989" in the Exoneration Era filter to view Pre-1989 exonerations. Use the filters on the left to search for exonerations with particular criteria. Hover over the symbols for explanations of filters or columns. Use the Keyword Search box to filter for cases that contain those keywords in the narrative summary.

If multiple keywords are entered, the search will show cases in which the narrative contains ALL of those words. So adding more search terms will narrow the search. Terms with fewer than three characters (e.g., "IQ") are ignored in searches. Searches can be further narrowed by using "quotation marks" to search for exact phrases. Keywords both inside and outside quotation marks can be combined. And, truncated words can be entered: the term "discrim" will return all variants on that root. No "wildcards," such as "*" are necessary for truncation.

Since the table is filtered to 1989 through the present by default, a search for the name of someone who was exonerated before 1989 will not produce results until the Date of Exoneration is adjusted, or the Pre-1989 filter is selected.

Once filters have been set, select the column headings you wish to display, and sort the table by whatever column heading you choose by clicking on the column heading. For more detailed instructions, see Understanding the Registry, under "About" at the top right of the Home Page.

Note: 1989 was the year of the first DNA exoneration and the dawn of a new era of wrongful convictions. The Registry used to separate the two - pre and post 1989 exonerations - into two separate and distinct databases. They are now synthesized to reflect the entire body of exoneration data. If you wish to view exonerations prior to 1989, check "Pre-1989" in the Exoneration Era filter.

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Total records: 43
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Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Years lost Age Race Sex Posting Date
Anderson, Marvin Virginia Hanover 1982 2002 Sexual Assault Life 14.5 18 Black Male 08-29-2011
Barbour, Bennett Virginia James City 1978 2012 Sexual Assault 10 years 4.2 22 Black Male 06-27-2012
Barnes, Lamar Virginia Portsmouth City 2003 2022 Murder Life 18.4 20 Black Male 01-27-2022
Carter, Joseph Virginia Norfolk City 1990 2021 Murder Life 26.4 30 Black Male 08-24-2021
Coker, Edgar Virginia Stafford 2007 2014 Sexual Assault 1 year and 5 months 1.5 15 Black Male 03-03-2014
Conteh, Maligie Virginia Fairfax 2010 2013 Robbery 1 year and 11 months 1.5 19 Black Male 04-23-2013
Copeland, Darrell A. Virginia Chesapeake City 2007 2008 Weapon Possession or Sale 5 years 1.3 18 Black Male 08-29-2011
Cunningham, Calvin Wayne Virginia Newport News City 1981 2011 Sexual Assault 16 years 7.1 26 Black Male 08-29-2011
Davidson, Willie Virginia Norfolk City 1981 2005 Sexual Assault 20 years 11.1 24 Black Male 08-29-2011
Dixon, Malvester Jr. Virginia Martinsville City 2005 2006 Accessory to Murder Not Sentenced 0 51 Black Male 08-18-2018
Duffy, Keshawn Virginia Hampton City 2019 2024 Child Sex Abuse Life without parole 5.1 34 Black Male 09-15-2024
Gray, Russell Leroy Virginia Richmond City 1987 1990 Murder 52 years 3.2 20 Black Male 08-29-2011
Harper, William Virginia Norfolk 1931 1931 Sexual Assault Death 0.1 22 Black Male 03-13-2018
Haynesworth, Thomas Virginia Richmond City 1984 2011 Sexual Assault 74 years 26.7 18 Black Male 02-24-2012
Hopkins, Troy Virginia Richmond City 1990 2005 Murder 28 years 10.2 23 Black Male 08-29-2011
Johnson, Joshua Virginia Alexandria City 2021 2023 Sexual Assault 3 years and 6 months 0.3 29 Black Male 10-05-2023
Johnson, Messiah Virginia Norfolk City 1998 2021 Robbery Life 19.5 23 Black Male 01-12-2026
Lawton, Steven Virginia Newport News City 1990 1997 Sexual Assault 72 years 6.4 37 Black Male 02-18-2016
Lyons, Ernest Virginia Nansemond County (now known as City of Suffolk) 1909 1912 Murder 18 years 3.2 Black Male 03-13-2018
McCray, Brian Virginia Norfolk City 1993 1994 Murder 43 years 0.8 24 Black Male 10-12-2011
McLean, Keyiede Virginia Arlington 2023 2025 Theft Fine 0 45 Black Female 02-07-2025
Merritt, Gilbert III Virginia Norfolk City 2001 2024 Murder 30 years 20.2 22 Black Male 04-04-2024
Moore, Curtis Virginia Greensville 1978 2010 Murder Life 3.1 32 Black Male 08-29-2011
Morman, Bobbie Jr. Virginia Norfolk City 1993 2021 Attempt, Violent 48 years 22.4 18 Black Male 08-16-2021
Phillips, Richard Virginia City of Hampton 1900 1930 Murder Death 30.6 22 Black Male 03-13-2018
Prince, Christopher E. Virginia Culpeper 1994 1995 Burglary 6 to 12 years 1.2 18 Black Male 08-29-2011
Rogers, Silas Virginia City of Petersburg 1943 1952 Murder Death 9.3 21 Black Male 03-13-2018
Ruffin, Julius Virginia Norfolk City 1982 2003 Sexual Assault Life 20.4 28 Black Male 08-29-2011
Scott, Winston Virginia Fairfax 1976 2019 Sexual Assault 14 years 5.3 19 Black Male 03-15-2019
Snyder, Walter Virginia Arlington 1986 1993 Sexual Assault 45 years 6.8 20 Black Male 08-29-2011
Talley, Dell Virginia Henrico 1991 1991 Sexual Assault Not Sentenced 0.3 23 Black Male 10-13-2014
Thomas, Maverick Virginia Martinsville City 2005 2006 Murder Life 0.9 31 Black Male 08-18-2018
Thompson, Teddy Virginia Hampton City 2001 2007 Robbery 16 years 6.5 16 Black Male 08-29-2011
Thorne, Esther Virginia Norfolk City 2014 2020 Child Sex Abuse 17 years 6.3 45 Black Female 09-17-2020
Thurman, Philip Leon Virginia Alexandria City 1985 2005 Sexual Assault 31 years 19.4 29 Black Male 08-29-2011
Tillman, Jervon Virginia Henrico 2009 2022 Robbery 25 years 6.9 26 Black Male 01-31-2022
Tingle, John Jr. Virginia Virginia Beach 1993 1994 Assault 10 years 0.4 25 Black Male 03-11-2013
Washington, Earl Jr. Virginia Culpeper 1984 2000 Murder Death 16.7 22 Black Male 08-29-2011
Watford, Roy III Virginia Portsmouth City 1978 2018 Child Sex Abuse Probation 0 18 Black Male 03-08-2018
Webb, Troy Virginia Virginia Beach 1989 1996 Sexual Assault 47 years 7.7 20 Black Male 08-29-2011
White, Curtis Virginia Loudoun 1993 1994 Murder Not Sentenced 0.9 31 Black Male 03-11-2013
Whitfield, Arthur Lee Virginia Norfolk City 1982 2009 Sexual Assault 63 years 22.6 26 Black Male 08-29-2011
Wilson, Elon Virginia Fairfax 2019 2021 Weapon Possession or Sale 3 years and 1 month 2.0 23 Black Male 11-12-2024