Florida man jailed for 37 years for a murder he didn’t commit: Now, he’ll receive $14 million | News from Mexico

Tampa, Fla. – Robert DuBois spent 37 years in a Florida prison for rape and murder in 1983 Not committed. Now, you are ready to receive 14 million dollar From the city of Tampa as compensation for all those lost years.

DuBois, who was 18 at the time of the crime, initially was Sentenced to death For the murder of 19-year-old Barbara Grams. Although his sentence was reduced to life in prison, as of 2018, with the help of the Institute Innocence Project, prosecutors agreed. Review the case.

DNA testing, which was not available in the early 1980s, They accused two other persons in the murderWhich lead to Dubois’ release in 2020. After a while, DuBois Sued the city of Tampato the police officers who investigated the case and to a forensic dentist, who testified that his teeth matched the alleged bite marks on the victim.

The lawsuit was settled on January 11, but on Thursday, the Tampa City Council voted unanimously to approve it and The prize is officially $14 million For DuBoise, now 59 years old. Council members said that’s the least the city can do for him with the money.

This was a big mistake,” said council member Luis Vieira. “I hope and pray that this settlement brings him some comfort.”

DuBois, who was not present at Thursday’s meeting, was represented in the case by a civil rights law firm Loevy & Loevy Based in Chicago, who has handled numerous wrongful conviction cases across the country.

“The settlement is not only an acknowledgment of the harm Mr. DuBois suffered, but also an opportunity for him to move on with his life,” the law firm said in a statement.

In a brief phone interview after Thursday’s vote, DuBois said that’s exactly what he’s doing. said Works as Director of Maintenance At Tampa-area country clubs and does other repair work. You are thinking of buying a house.

To me that means it’s finally over. “I’m glad I don’t have to spend more years of my life chasing this,” he said. “Money, house, car, none of them can bring back what I lost. I don’t feel bitter about anything. “I don’t want to waste my time on bitterness and pity parties.”

Tampa Police Chief Lee Berkaw said in a statement that since the DuBois case, detectives are getting better training and are advancing in technology. Much progress has been made How such an investigation is conducted.

“We recognize the profound and lasting effects of this case, particularly on Mr. DuBois nearly four decades later,” Berkaw said.

DuBois and his law firm will receive $9 million this year$3 million next year and $2 million in 2026, according to city documents.

The case for which he was jailed

Gram was Sexually assaulted and beaten On his way home from work at a Tampa restaurant in August 1983. A medical examiner concluded that the gash on his cheek was a bite mark, prompting investigators to take bite samples from several men, including DuBois. Significantly, wound impressions It was made of wax.

A forensic dentist determined that the bite Came from DuBoise, although he did not know Gram but frequented the area where her body was found. The dentist testified as part of the Dubois lawsuit that he no longer believed the bite marks matched. directly with the individualPursuant to City Council Resolution on Contracts.

Decades later, DNA tests point Amos Robinson and Ebron Scott, both are serving life sentences for other murders. Both Grams are awaiting trial on first-degree murder charges in the case.

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The testimony of a prison informant who claimed that Dubois Confessed to the murder of Gram Later he was also defamed. The city denied in the settlement that any of its police officers were guilty of intentional misconduct, as DuBois claimed in the lawsuit.

Dubois left a prison of Florida in August 2020.

I prayed to God every day and waited for this,” Dubois said moments after his release.

A month later at a court hearing in which he finally The case was withdrawnDuBoise said they It was difficult to trust the judiciary “Because they put many obstacles in my way.” Now, he said he believes justice has been served.

“There are really sincere people in these offices now,” DuBois said. “It’s been incredible. I am very grateful to all of you.”