Innocence Blog

Exoneree Ken Wyniemko to speak Thursday at the University of South Dakota

Posted: February 14, 2007

Ken Wyniemko, who served nine years in Michigan for a rape he didn’t commit, will speak Thursday at 4 p.m. at University of South Dakota Law School. Wyniemko, who speaks at more than 130 public events each year, will discuss his wrongful conviction and life after exoneration.

"One morning I'm at home lying in bed," Wyniemko said. "The next, I'm talking to two detectives about a rape I didn't do."

Wyniemko found himself on trial after a jailhouse snitch said he confessed and the rape victim who had never seen the face of her attacker, identified him as her attacker.

He was found guilty of 15 counts of first degree Criminal Sexual Conduct and was sentenced to 40-60 years for each count.

Read the full story here. (The Volante Online, 02/14/07)

Get details on attending the event.

Read more about Wyniemko’s case here.

Other exonerees have spoken recently about their cases and the issue of wrongful convictions:

Jeff Deskovic was convicted of murder when he was 17 years old and served 16 years before DNA testing proved his innocence in 2006. He studied the causes of wrongful conviction during his time in prison and now speaks actively around the region on a variety of criminal justice topics.

He spoke at two community events in New York yesterday, telling one group: "It's not a question of if we execute an innocent person. It's a question of when — and how many."


Read the full story here.


Maryland exoneree Kirk Bloodsworth was the first person who had served time on death row to be exonerated based on DNA evidence. He spoke last week in Bergen County, NJ.

Read the full story here.

Interested in inviting an exoneree to speak at an event? Email us for more information.

Tags: Michigan, Kenneth Wyniemko