"But you just held on to the thought that justice would come to light, and that the person who had attacked me would be found, would be prosecuted. No DNA evidence was available for some of Haynesworth's other convictions, so his legal team worked with The Innocence Project to conduct an investigation. Following the divorce, Phil's family was split into two. In the end, Richmond and Henrico Commonwealths Attorneys concluded that Leon Davis was responsible for all of the cases Haynesworth had served time for. Press "Enter" or click on the arrow to show results. Haynesworth was arrested, and four other women that had been assaulted in a similar manner around the same time picked him out of a lineup. In 2005, five wrongfully convicted men were exonerated in Virginia. For example, one victim, who was 5ft 8in described their attacker a taller than me and a second victim testified that the attacker was 5ft 10in. ADVERTISEMENT Haynesworth was 18 years old and had no criminal record to his name when he was accused of series of sexual assaults that took place over a month in early 1984. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. "[14] Cuccinelli said, "Although we wish that the amount of money could have been greater, we also know that no amount can make up for those 27 lost years. Haynesworth's photo was shown to the other four victims in photo arrays, and all four identified him as their attacker. Virginia Thomas, wife of Justice Clarence Thomas . "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. In May 2012, the Potomac Local News reported that Haynesworth had been awarded $1,075,178 [870,598.51] in damages for his wrongful imprisonment. However, as shown in The Innocence Files, Haynesworth is now friends with Janet Burke, one of the victims who mistakenly identified him as her rapist. [2], No physical evidence could be found for the other two cases, so the state prosecutors gave Haynesworth two polygraph tests, which he passed. Over the course of four weeks in the winter of 1984, five women were assaulted in a series of attacks in and around the East End neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. What happened to Thomas Haynesworth, a subject in Netflix's The Innocence Files? On February 5, 1984, the victim of the January 27 attack saw Haynesworth walking near a grocery store (where his mother had sent him to buy groceries) and, believing him to be her attacker, called the police. 2023 Wiki Biography & Celebrity Profiles as wikipedia, Billy Ray Brown Wiki, Biography, Age, Net Worth, Family, Instagram, Twitter, Social Profiles & More Facts, Man Convicted And Later Exonerated Of Four Charges Of Rape, Pierpaolo Bisoli (Footballer) Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth, Tom Hazelmyer (Musician) Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth, man convicted and later exonerated of four charges of rape. [3] The woman identified him as her attacker and he was arrested. Unfortunately, a simple twist of fate (and the misapplication of memories) resulted in a major miscarriage of justice. I'm just happy with where I am in my life. Mark Warner ordered a review of cases between 1973 and 1988, it was discovered that the semen recovered from the victim of Haynesworths January 3 rape conviction matched Davis, not Haynesworth. Given the locations and nature of the attacks, and the description of the attacker, police believed one man was responsible. One victim who was 5'8 said that her attacker was taller than her, and another testified that she believed the assailant was at least 5'10, but Haynesworth is only 5'6. While there was no evidence that placed Haynesworth at any of the crime scenes, he was convicted based on the testimony of Janet Burke, one of the victims. "I just told her, 'You don't need to apologize, 'cause we are both victims in the system,'" Haynesworth said. Netflixs new docuseries, The Innocence Files, is not an easy watch. The release was conditioned, however, on his abiding by numerous restrictions, such as a curfew and a requirement that he wear an ankle monitor. Guards awakened him around 1 am ET to inform him of his release, and other inmates gave him a birthday card to take home. He was sentenced to a total of 84 years in prison. He was accused of sexual assault and served a 27-year sentence until he was eventually cleared of all charges. Evidence used at the trial was based on victims' eyewitness accounts. Despite having genuine adoration for May, Thomas did not marry her after he found out Grace was pregnant. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. In May 2012, the Potomac Local News reported that Haynesworth had been awarded $1,075,178 in damages for his wrongful imprisonment. He wrote letters to local newspapers, law students, and 60 Minutes, pleading for help to appeal his case. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. Former President Trump doubled down on his attacks on superstar singer Rihanna on Sunday night following her Super Bowl performance. With the help of the Innocence Project, two commonwealth's attorneys, and Attorney General Cuccinelli, Haynesworth . This is well below the $50,000 per-year federal standard. Police then showed Haynesworths picture in a leading lineup to four other women who police suspected had been attacked by the same perpetrator. Thomas Haynesworth is a resident of Richmond, Virginia, who served 27 years in state prison as a result of four wrongful convictions for crimes for which he was exonerated in 2011. Haynesworth was convicted in three of the four trials, and sentenced to 10 years, 36 years, and 28 years in prison, respectively, for a total of 84 years in prison. [2] In 2010, Commonwealth's attorneys Michael Herring and Wade Kizer of Richmond and Henrico counties, respectively, brought the case to the attention of Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a former state senator. Unlike the previous five episodes of The Innocence Files, how much Haynesworth received in compensation from was not revealed. All Rights Reserved. He is seen as one of the most successful man convicted and later exonerated of four charges of rape of all times. Guards awakened him around 1am ET to inform him of his release, and other inmates gave him a birthday card to take home. ")[6], Haynesworth was tried in four separate rape cases in 1984. "Those details that I had spent so much time looking and watching and paying attention to were absolutely wrong," she admitted. However, it was found that the victims had identified the wrong man. He was convicted of the rapes that took place after Haynesworth arrest and sentenced to multiple life sentences. Where Is 'The Innocence Files' Subject Kenneth Wyniemko Today? Unlike the previous five episodes of the Netflix series, it was never revealed how much Haynesworth received in compensation for his ordeal. It all depends on the way you take it. I ain't give up hope. His mother, Dolores Haynesworth, said, Hes home. On January 27, a woman was approached outside her home by a man demanding money and sex; she locked herself inside and called the police while the man fled. Haynesworth also gives talks to at-risk youth and lobbies for justice reform. Haynesworth was convicted in three of the four trials, and sentenced to 10 years, 36 years, and 28 years in prison, respectively, for a total of 84 years in prison. However, his advice fell on deaf ears. Thomas Andrews had married Helen Reilly Barbour almost four years earlier, and they had a two-year-old daughter. On February 5, 1984, 18-year-old Haynesworth was walking to a grocery store when a woman who had been a victim of an abduction and rape a month earlier called the police and named him as her attacker. Thomas Haynesworth, an 18-year-old Richmond resident with no criminal record, became a suspect when one of the victims spotted him walking on the street and identified him as her attacker. The evidence used at the trial was based on victims' eyewitness accounts. Twenty-seven years, I never gave up. Thomas is an ideal celebrity influencer. Haynesworth maintained his innocence throughout the years of incarceration. Haynesworth was tried on four of the crimes in separate trials. September 26, 2019 in MAIP News Thomas Haynesworth was an 18-year-old with no criminal record when he was mistakenly identified as a man who had attacked five women in Richmond, Virginia in 1984. What happened to Thomas Haynesworth, a subject in Netflix documentaryThe Innocence Files? At least ten young women reported they were attacked by a young black man who referred to himself as the "Black Ninja". (Charges were dropped in the January 27 attack, despite the victim of that attack having been the first victim to identify him.) As it turns out, The Innocence Project - founded by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld in 1992 -used that notebook full of DNA evidence toclear Haynesworth's name, and to identify the aforementionedDavis as a serial rapist who terrorized women during the '80s. Thomas Haynesworth (born March 21, 1965) is a resident of Richmond, Virginia, who served 27 years in state prison as a result of four wrongful convictions for crimes for which he was exonerated in 2011. Haynesworth was arrested in Richmond at the age of 18 in 1984 after a woman identified him as her attacker. On January 3, 1984, a 20-year-old white woman was raped at knifepoint in a day-care centre in Richmond, Virginia by a young black male. Chester Hollman III, PA: 28 years, none. But, he noted, "No amount of money can bring back the 27 years. I kept pushing. View our online Press Pack. One of the cases in the series features Thomas Haynesworth, a Richmond, Va. man who was wrongfully convicted of rape in 1984. On February 5, 1984, the victim of the January 27 attack saw Haynesworth, a young, African-American man, walking near a grocery store (where his mother had sent him to buy groceries) and, believing him to be her attacker, called the police. On December 6, 2011, in a 6-4 decision, the Court of Appeals granted writs of innocence in the remaining two rape cases, fully exonerating Haynesworth. 2 Phil Donahue is a daytime television icon Credit: Getty Images - Getty Who is Phil Donahue? Without media coverage, he married Jillian Wisniewski in Franklin, Tennessee. He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, and the Gospel of John mentions quite a lot about him. Nov. 23, 1989 12 AM PT. Thomas Haynesworth was arrested aged 18 and convicted of four violent rapes. In 2010, Commonwealths attorneys Michael Herring and Wade Kizer of Richmond and Henrico counties, respectively, brought the case to the attention of Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a former state senator. He said: "I met . Help us advocate for the innocent by sharing cases from the Innocence Project. "[9] Haynesworth said, "I always believed this day would come," and added, "I didn't think it would take 27 years. The Innocence Files on Netflix deconstructs the timeline of events, and shows how the unreliability of human memories affected the case. At 18 years-old Thomas Haynesworth was wrongfully accused of raping four women in Richmond's East End. Burke married, had two children, and took a job with an organization called Child Savers, which helps children who have been the victims of physical and sexual assault. [4][5] (Note: "The DNA exoneration cases where the false conviction is established with near certainty show that eyewitness evidence has been largely responsible for false conviction in more than 70% of cases (www.innocenceproj.org). ", Leslie Knuycky, Heather M. Clyder, Sarah E. Cavrak, "Line-up Misidentifications: When Being Prototypically Black is Perceived as Criminal". What time is Isolation Stories on ITV TONIGHT? Express.co.ukhas everything you need to know about episode six titled The Witness: Making Memory and the man at the centre of the story, Thomas Haynesworth. It's justice. At his trials, the rape victims testified that Haynesworth had been their attacker. After reviewing this and other evidence, local prosecutors brought the case to the office of Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who began advocating for Haynesworth. Naturally, rapes that targeted the same victim demographic and followed the same pattern persisted even after his arrest and conviction. On February 5, 1984, Thomas Haynesworth, 18, was arrested after the victim of the January 27 attempted robbery saw him walking near a market and told police he was her attacker. He never got there. Evidence used at the trial was based on victims' eyewitness accounts. You can scroll down for information about his Social media profiles. Other studies have shown that eyewitnesses are more likely to misidentify someone of another race than someone of their own race. "[12], Cuccinelli said the Haynesworth case proved that the new state laws allowing non-biological evidence to be presented could work, but that the laws needed to be reworked to make it less difficult to win an exoneration. [7], The case caused law enforcement and criminal justice officials to re-assess the reliability of eyewitness identifications. After Davis was arrested, the rapes stopped. Des Bishop takes on funny Tik Tok dance challenge in brown curly wig and says he's 'still in the game' at 44, Bloods Jim and Paul dispose of Kians body in the middle of childrens communion in shocking scenes, Kate Garraway says husband Derek Draper is 'still with us' but facing huge battle with coronavirus in emotional post, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Seated next to her was Haynesworth. Virginia State Governor Bob McDonnell said: Now, as Mr Haynesworth begins the next chapter in his life, it is morally right for Virginia to provide him with a means to financial security and the ability to move on with his future. [14], Haynesworth said the compensation was "not what it could have been" but that he was "content" with it. From January 3 until February 1, four more white women were victims of similar rapes or attempted rapes and all five women described a similar attacker. One of those former inmates is Thomas Haynesworth from Richmond, Va. At 18 years old, he was charged with rape, sodomy, abduction, use of a firearm, and attempted robbery after multiple sexual assault victims identified the black teen as their attacker. "[12], Haynesworth continued working in Cuccinelli's office, and planned to open his own auto repair business. His breakout role was playing private investigator Thomas Magnum in the television series Magnum, P.I. Although Haynesworth was in custody, rapes continued to occur in the same neighborhood. A police officer pulled up next to Haynesworth, and asked if he would allow a woman whose house was broken into to look at him. Episode six of The Innocence Files explains how victims and witnesses can easily misidentify the accused and highlight the risks of relying on eye witness testimony. Thomas Haynesworth was arrested and sent to prison for rape and various degrees of sexual assault that included attempted abduction. [9] He walked out of the prison, Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, around 11am, carrying all his belongings (a television and a single garbage bag with the rest of his belongings). The duo told the audience about their emotional first encounter after Haynesworths release from prison. [7][11], Cuccinelli also said of Haynesworth, "His composure, dignity and faithfulness are an absolute witness to me. After serving 27 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Haynesworth was exonerated on December 6, 2011. The Terrence Higgins Trust conducted a survey shortly after his announcement and found that 74% of. On March 21, 2011 (his 46th birthday), Haynesworth was granted parole after semen recovered from one of his supposed victims was retested and matched to serial rapist Leon Davis who is currently serving multiple life sentences for various crimes. On the morning of March 21, 2011 (his 46th birthday), Haynesworth was released from prison on parole. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Scroll Down and find everything about him. But while the rapes promptly stopped after Davis' arrest, authorities still believed that both Davis and Haynesworth were the attackers. "It just crushes you.". Strictly star bags life-changing EastEnders role as part of new family, Baby's body found after huge search as cops quiz Constance Marten & lover, Bianca Gascoigne reveals very unusual name for her newborn daughter, I took pic of son, 18, before his first night out then the worst thing happened, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. After further DNA testing and an extensive investigation proved that Davis was behind all the rapes for which Haynesworth had been convicted, one would think Haynesworth would be released from prison. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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