Innocence Blog

Texas Man Released From Prison After 24 Years

Posted: August 24, 2012 3:00 pm

David Wiggins was released from prison today after a Tarrant County judge vacated his 1989 rape conviction based on DNA evidence that proves his innocence. Wiggins was convicted largely based on the victim’s identification and served 24 years behind bars.
 
The Tarrant County District Attorney’s office fully cooperated with the Innocence Project, consented to testing and opened their files to reinvestigate the crime. Wiggins always maintained his innocence and even filed an unsuccessful pro se motion seeking DNA testing before his trial, though DNA technology had just been introduced in criminal cases at that time. Although earlier rounds of testing were inconclusive, the Innocence Project was able to secure testing earlier this month that definitively excludes Wiggins as the source of sperm found on clothing the defendant was wearing at the time of the attack.
 
He was joined in court this morning by his family, friends and other local exonerees.
 
Coverage about the case here and here.