As of Saturday, more than $1.4 million had been raised for a man who spent 43 years in prison before a judge reversed his conviction in a triple homicide.
While fighting for Kevin Strickland’s release, the Midwest Innocence Project set up a GoFundMe account, stressing that he would not receive compensation from Missouri and would require assistance with basic living expenses. Strickland, who is 62 years old, would not be eligible for wrongful incarceration reparations because the state only provides payouts to persons who have been exonerated through DNA evidence.
Judge James Welsh, a former Missouri Court of Appeals judge, granted Strickland’s release on Tuesday, citing evidence that has been recanted or disproven since his conviction. More than $1.45 million had been given to support Strickland by Saturday evening.
Strickland has always claimed that he was at home watching television at the time of the murders, which occurred when he was 18 years old in 1978.
He expressed gratitude to God for “leading me through this for 43 years” as he was released from prison.
