A man spent 43 years in prison for a triple murder he says he didn't commit. He's now a free man

NO, I DIDN’T THINK THIS DAY WAS GONNA COME I MEAN NOT BEFORE I GOT THIS LEGAL TEAM WHY I DIDN’T WHILE I WAS THINKING IN PRISON TODAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. I WAS ACTUALLY WATCHING A SOAP OPERA. AND YOU KNOW PLAYING WITH ACROSS THE NEWS BREAK OR WHATEVER THEY CALL THEM DAN AND I JUST COULDN’T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS HERE. YES, I LRNEAED. ETH PICTURE YES, AND THEN OTHER INMATES STARTED HOLLERING. AND I HEARD THEM BEATING ON WALLS AND CARRYING THEM. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THJUE DGE? THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING ALL THE NO EVIDENCE THAT WAS AGAINST ME TO BEGIN WITH I REALLY APPRECIATE HIM TAKING HIS TIME TO LISTEN. AND UNDERSTAND WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN 1978 AND HOW? YOU KNOW, I WAS EASY MARK AND THE POLICE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF I LIKE TO SELL THEM. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. TO SOMEONE WHO? DEFINILYTE NOT TO EVER GIVE UP. NEVER GIVE UP. CONTINUOUSLY WRITE OUT YOU KNOW LETTERS OR WHATERVE TRYING TO GET SUPPORT FROM SOMEBODY YOUR MENTALLY THROW YOUR HOOK. I HEAT TO REFER TO MY ATTORNEY WHY MY BASS WHAT FHIS THE OTHER THING LIKE THAT BUT YOU KNOW? I CAUGHT ONE A COUPLE AND THEY WENT TO WORK. AND WENT TO WORK THEY LISTEN. AND IT TOOK THEM NO TIME TO SEE THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE. SAID I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS CMERI BEFORE DOING. ALL RIGHT. AND TO DO NEXT I MEAN, THAT’S DIFFICULT. I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M DOING RIGHT NOW. I LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GET YOU HANDS ON THAT. BUT IF I CAN EVER GET INVOLVED WITH SOME TYPE OF YOU KNOW SPEAKING CONCERNING LEGISLATION SOMETHING. WE LIKE TO GET SOME THINGS CHANGED. I GOT SOME IDEAS OR WHERE THEY GET KEEP TSHI FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE. WELL, I DIDN’T HAVE THIS. DIDN’T HAVE ALL THIS. I THINK I TRY TO.HIS. HAVE A CHANGE. I’M NOT NECESSARILY. ANGR IT’S A LOT. IT’S A LOT. I MEAN, I THINK I’VE CREATED SOME EMOTION S.THAT YOU ALL DON’T KNOW ABOUT JUST YET. I’M HAD TO PUT A NAME ON. I’VE INTERACTED APART AT THE JOY SORROW. FEAR, YOU KNOW ALL THOSE I’M TRYING TO FIGURE OUTOW HO T PUT THEM TOGETHER. BUT YEAH, I THINK I’VE CREATED A COUPLE OF JOBS I KNOW ABOUT YET. AS TODAY NO. THAT’S JU I APPRECIATE FOR YOU KNOW, SHE SHE WAS A VICTIM LIKE, YOU KNOW, TESTIMONY SAY SSHE WAS THE VICTIM OF POLICE PUT HER UP TO DOING WHAT SHE DID A IND DON’T HAVE A REAL FEELINGS FOR ALL RIGHT APPRECIATED BEFORE SHE PASSED SHE TRIED TO GET THE WORD OUT THATOU Y BODY KNOW THAT SHE COULD I WASN’T. SO I’M JUST LIKE TO TLEL THE THANK YOU FOR THAT, YOU KNOW TRYING TO GET THAT DONE. NO HARD FEELINGS. FOR WHAT HURTS WITH THE SYSTEM? THEY KNEW FROM DAY ONE. I DIDN’T COMMIT THIS CRIME. YOU KNOW, I WAS AN EASY ONE. SO WHY NOT GIVE IT TO ME. YOU LOOK FOR ME.IT TO ME. THERE’S GONNA BE LIKE, I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT IT’S GONNA BE LIKE WHEN SO MY ATTORNEY’S JUST NOW SO AS YOU KNOW A GREAT DEAL OF JOY. REGULAR JOINT PROBLYAB GIVE HER A SPANKING OR SOMETHING. DID THE GUARD SAY ANYTHING TO YOU? I KNOW YOU SAID YOU HEARD A LOT OF HPIOONGND A HOLLERING. DID ANYBODY THERE SAY ANYTHING AT ALL AS YOU WERE LEAVING? OH, THEY WERE SUPER NICE. I’MOT N SURE. THAT’ TSHE JAIL I LIVED IN FOR A COUPLE YEARS. THEY WERE SUPER. TOY TOLD ME NOT TO COME BACK WATCHING BEEN HERE THE FIRST TIME. THANKS THANKSGIVING TWO DAYS AWAY. WH AT DO YOU THINK? OH, OKAY. THINK? I BE I CAN’T BEGIN TO SAY BUT ALL I’M THINKING BUT I GUESS I HAVE TO BEGIN BUT THESE ATTORNEYS. FOR THOUGHT BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM I WOULDN’T BE SITTING HERE YOU WOULDN’T BE SITTING HERE. THANKSOR F GOD WALKING ME THROUGH THIS BEFEOR 43 YEARS PROTECTING ME. LET ME GET A LITTLE SCUFFED UP MY WAY. I GSSUE OVER WAS LEARNING LESSON LEARNING LUMPS. AND JUST LIKE ULWOD HAVE THE SIDE FOR THIS WHEELCHAIR MY HELP, YOU KNOW. AND NOT TGE ANY MORE VICTIMIZED IN? IS A SYSTEM THEN I WOULD. ONCE AGAIN, IT NEEDS TO BE TORN DOWN AND REDONE. FROM THE FROM THE FROM THE RESTING OFFICER. SIDE I MEAN IT DON’T WORK. I MEAN IT WORKED HERE IN THE LONG RUN, BUT IT TOOK 43 YEARS. TO GET HEER AND WHEN THEY KNEW FROM DAY ONE THAT I WASN’T THE PERSONO T COMMITED THAT TIME THEY KNEW. SO ITEE NDS TO BE REVAMPED AS MUCH AS CORRECTIONS. REVAEDMP IT’S A LOT. I WAS SPEAKING WITH ONE YROF SISTER REALITY THAT YU GUYS TO DISCUSS LAST NIGHT POSSIBLY. WHAT YOU DOING ONCE YOU LEFT. THAT FIRST STOP GONNA BE I HAD TO KPEE I DON’T KNOW. I REALLY CAN’T SAY DON’T WANT TO BE FOLLOWED TO THAT ONE.

After 43 years in prison, Kevin Strickland is a free man. After hearings earlier this month, Judge James Welsh, a retired Missouri Court of Appeals judge, has decided to set aside Strickland's conviction in time for Thanksgiving. Strickland has spent the last 43 years in prison for a triple murder. Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said Strickland, 62, was wrongly convicted in 1979. He has maintained since his conviction that he wasn't anywhere near the crime scene. A woman, who was wounded in the gunfire, recanted her story placing Strickland at the scene. For years she told people Strickland wasn't there. She died recently, making it impossible for her to testify at a hearing. Fingerprint evidence also suggests he wasn't at the crime scene. Jackson County prosecutors exercised a new Missouri law allowing them to review past cases in which they believe someone was wrongly convicted of a crime. However, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office argued that Strickland was one of the killers and should remain in prison.In a statement on twitter, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said, "Earlier this year, I signed SB 53, which created a judicial procedure for prosecuting attorneys to use, in cases like this one, where the prosecutor believes that there was a miscarriage of justice and a wrongful conviction was entered."The Court has made its decision, we respect the decision, and the Department of Corrections will proceed with Mr. Strickland's release immediately."Judge Welsh said in his opinion, issued Tuesday that Strickland's conviction should immediately be set aside, and Strickland should immediately be released from custody. In his opinion, Welsh said, "the Court's confidence in Strickland's conviction is so undermined it cannot stand."Welsh noted that no physical evidence implicated Strickland in the homicide and that he was convicted solely on the testimony of an eyewitness, who later recanted her testimony. A spokesman for the Missouri Attorney General's Office said, "In this case, we defended the rule of law and the decision that a jury of Mr. Strickland’s peers made after hearing all of the facts in the case. The Court has spoken, no further action will be taken in this matter.”The Jackson County, Missouri Prosecutor's office officially filed a Notice of Dismissal, dismissing all criminal counts against Strickland at 11:50 a.m."To say we're extremely pleased and grateful is an understatement," Baker said in a statement. "This brings justice — finally — to a man who has tragically suffered so so greatly as a result of this wrongful conviction." The Midwest Innocence Project has set up a GoFundMe page to support Strickland following his release. The fundraiser has already surpassed its initial $40,000 goal. Strickland was released Tuesday afternoon.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

After 43 years in prison, Kevin Strickland is a free man.

After hearings earlier this month, Judge James Welsh, a retired Missouri Court of Appeals judge, has decided to set aside Strickland's conviction in time for Thanksgiving.

Strickland has spent the last 43 years in prison for a triple murder. Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said Strickland, 62, was wrongly convicted in 1979.

He has maintained since his conviction that he wasn't anywhere near the crime scene. A woman, who was wounded in the gunfire, recanted her story placing Strickland at the scene. For years she told people Strickland wasn't there. She died recently, making it impossible for her to testify at a hearing. Fingerprint evidence also suggests he wasn't at the crime scene.

Jackson County prosecutors exercised a new Missouri law allowing them to review past cases in which they believe someone was wrongly convicted of a crime. However, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office argued that Strickland was one of the killers and should remain in prison.

In a statement on twitter, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said, "Earlier this year, I signed SB 53, which created a judicial procedure for prosecuting attorneys to use, in cases like this one, where the prosecutor believes that there was a miscarriage of justice and a wrongful conviction was entered.

"The Court has made its decision, we respect the decision, and the Department of Corrections will proceed with Mr. Strickland's release immediately."

Judge Welsh said in his opinion, issued Tuesday that Strickland's conviction should immediately be set aside, and Strickland should immediately be released from custody.

In his opinion, Welsh said, "the Court's confidence in Strickland's conviction is so undermined it cannot stand."

Welsh noted that no physical evidence implicated Strickland in the homicide and that he was convicted solely on the testimony of an eyewitness, who later recanted her testimony.

A spokesman for the Missouri Attorney General's Office said, "In this case, we defended the rule of law and the decision that a jury of Mr. Strickland’s peers made after hearing all of the facts in the case. The Court has spoken, no further action will be taken in this matter.”

Kevin Strickland will be freed. Praise the Lord! My heart breaks that his mother never got the chance to see him free, but I am heartened that we have justice. My thanks to the Midwest Innocence Project, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters-Baker, and all who fought for Kevin.
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) November 23, 2021

The Jackson County, Missouri Prosecutor's office officially filed a Notice of Dismissal, dismissing all criminal counts against Strickland at 11:50 a.m.

"To say we're extremely pleased and grateful is an understatement," Baker said in a statement. "This brings justice — finally — to a man who has tragically suffered so so greatly as a result of this wrongful conviction."

The Midwest Innocence Project has set up a GoFundMe page to support Strickland following his release. The fundraiser has already surpassed its initial $40,000 goal.

Strickland was released Tuesday afternoon.

A man spent 43 years in prison for a triple murder he says he didn't commit. He's now a free man

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