Last week, Robert Lee Stinson cleared his name when the unknown DNA profile found on the murder victim’s body was matched to another person who then confessed, in detail, to the murder.  Stinson was exonerated in 2009 of a 1984 murder after the Wisconsin Innocence Project presented evidence that the DNA found on the victim didn’t match Stinson’s and that the bite marks — the sole and primary piece of evidence against him — also didn’t come from Stinson.  That DNA profile was put into the national DNA database and it produced a “hit” to the real perpetrator.  IN over 40% of the cases where someone has been wrongfully convicted and later exonerated through DNA testing, the DNA database is employed and the real perpetrator is found.

As for Stinson, he has been out almost a year and has not gotten any sort of compensation.  The Wisconsin State Journal has the goods:

Donnell’s firm, Loevy & Loevy, is representing Stinson in his federal civil rights lawsuit against Milwaukee and in his request for the maximum $25,000 compensation for wrongful conviction from the State Claims Board.

Stinson’s conviction was overturned last year after prosecutors decided not to oppose the motion to free him. Lichstein said Price’s confession and the positive DNA match provide the final proof that Stinson was wrongfully convicted.

“Though nothing can make up for the 23 years he lost, our system should do what it can to make this right,” Lichstein said. “Lee has been out for more than a year and has received nothing. He should be compensated as much as possible under the law, as soon as possible.”

Congratulations to Mr. Stinson on clearing his name and to the folks at the Wisconsin Innocence Project for all their hard work.  You can learn more about Stinson’s case here.