After nearly 50 years, Glynn Simmons has finally been vindicated. On Tuesday, Oklahoma County District Judge Amy Palumbo made a historic ruling, declaring that the crime Simmons was convicted of "was not committed by Mr. Simmons," according to the Associated Press.
Simmons, now 71, had been imprisoned since December 1974 for the murder of Carolyn Sue Rogers in Edmond, Oklahoma. The National Registry of Exonerations notes that he spent a staggering 48 years, one month, and 18 days behind bars.
In a news conference following the ruling, Simmons expressed resilience, saying, “It's a lesson in resilience and tenacity. Don't let nobody tell you that it [exoneration] can't happen because it really can.”
Originally sentenced to death row alongside Don Roberts, who was also convicted in the Rogers case, their sentence was later amended to life in prison without parole in 1977. Simmons, who was only 22 at the time of the wrongful conviction, consistently maintained his innocence.
In July, Judge Palumbo ordered a retrial, acknowledging that Simmons had not received a fair trial due to evidence not being properly shared with his defense team during the original case.
To cope with his challenging situation, Simmons initiated a GoFundMe campaign, seeking support after being deprived of a normal life for nearly five decades. On the fundraising page, he shared, “My friend, I have been in prison for nearly 50 years! I've got nothing, and I am grateful for the support of relatives as I wait for the state of Oklahoma to compensate me for wrongly sending me to death row, where I was for 2.5 years.”
With plans to utilize the funds for basic necessities, Simmons aims to secure housing, clothing, furniture, transportation, food, and cover medical expenses as he battles liver cancer through chemotherapy.
At 70 years old, he envisions using his remaining time to advocate for systemic changes to prevent others from enduring a similar fate. His lawyer, Joe Norwood, mentioned that Simmons could potentially receive up to $175,000 in compensation for the years he spent wrongfully incarcerated.
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