The genealogy site’s clarification of its terms and conditions has barred those working on unsolved crimes from access to the company’s vast trove of records. Source: New York Times
Posts published in “False Arrests, Convictions and Imprisonments”
Prosecutors Drop Murder Case Against Man Who Served More Than 25 Years
By Gotham Rex on December 2, 2025
James Pugh, one of two men originally convicted in the savage killing of Deborah Meindl near Buffalo in 1993, said all along that he was innocent. Source: New York Times
Nassau Police Charge Man With Raping and Killing Teenager in 1984
By Gotham Rex on October 15, 2025
Theresa Fusco was left in the woods near the roller rink where she had worked. “I loved her and I miss her,” her father said. “She lives in my heart.” Source: New York Times
32 Years After a Brutal Murder, a Man Is on Trial. Again.
By Gotham Rex on September 19, 2025
A judge vacated the convictions of two men accused of killing Deborah Meindl in her Tonawanda, N.Y., home. On Friday, the district attorney began trying to convict them once more. Source: New York Times
Man Exonerated in 1990 Subway Killing of Tourist to Get $18 Million
By Gotham Rex on December 2, 2022
Johnny Hincapie was wrongly convicted in the fatal stabbing of Brian Watkins, who was in New York to watch the U.S. Open. Source: New York Times
Finance Companies Target Exonerated Prisoners With High Interest Advances
By Gotham Rex on November 27, 2022
Many former prisoners are broke until state settlements arrive. Tiding them over has become a niche market for finance firms. An investment can reap 33 percent interest. Source: New York Times
He Was Wrongly Imprisoned at 16. Eight Years Later, He Walks Free.
By Gotham Rex on November 17, 2022
Shamel Capers was convicted at the age of 16 of a murder he insisted he did not commit. On Thursday, the conviction was thrown out after the discovery of exonerating evidence. Source: New York Times
188 Convictions Tied to Discredited N.Y.P.D. Officers Are Tossed Out
By Gotham Rex on November 17, 2022
The convictions were connected to eight officers who “abused their positions of power,” the Manhattan district attorney said, and came amid hundreds of other dismissals sought by city prosecutors. Source: New York Times
New York to Pay $26 Million to Men Wrongly Convicted of Killing Malcolm X
By Gotham Rex on October 30, 2022
Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam spent more than 20 years in prison after the civil rights leader was assassinated in 1965. He had broken with the Nation of Islam. Source: New York Times
Sixth Teenager Charged in Central Park Jogger Case to Be Exonerated
By Gotham Rex on July 25, 2022
Steven Lopez is expected to have a robbery charge linked to the 1989 attack cleared from his record. Source: New York Times
Court Win Bolsters Push to Highlight Prosecutors’ Misconduct
By Gotham Rex on July 22, 2022
A group of law professors have tried to strengthen the disciplinary process for prosecuting attorneys by making complaints public. Source: New York Times
3 Imprisoned for 1995 Subway Murder Are Exonerated
By Gotham Rex on July 15, 2022
James Irons, Thomas Malik and Vincent Ellerbe were convicted as teenagers after a New York police detective elicited false convictions, prosecutors say. Source: New York Times
Man Exonerated in Malcolm X Murder Sues New York City After Talks Collapse
By Gotham Rex on July 14, 2022
Muhammad A. Aziz filed the $40 million claim on Thursday, seeking redress for a conviction that overshadowed 55 years of his life. Source: New York Times
How 5 Convicted Murderers Banded Together to Get Out of Prison
By Gotham Rex on May 7, 2022
A loose brotherhood of prisoners came together to share knowledge on how to prove their innocence. It took decades, but it worked. Source: New York Times
Shawn Williams, Falsely Accused of a Murder in Brooklyn, Wins $10.5 Million
By Gotham Rex on May 5, 2022
Shawn Williams, falsely accused of a 1993 murder in Brooklyn, won the largest settlement so far thanks to the alleged misconduct of a once-renowned homicide detective. Source: New York Times