Recent DNA testing has proven the innocence of 10 Black men who were only children when they were forced by Illinois police to confess to murders they did not commit. The state will neither admit their grievous errors or apologize to the young men for taking away 20 years of their lives, despite overwhelming evidence which has even linked the crime to the real killer.
Known as The Dixmoor Five, five Black male teens were arrested in Cook County (1992) for the sexual assault and murder of 14-year old Cateresa Matthews. Three of the five boys confessed and testified against the others in exchange for lighter sentences. Now they state that they were coerced by police into signing confessions. A few months ago, post-conviction DNA samples taken from Ms Matthews were tested using modern scientific techniques. The DNA belonged to none of the young men who were convicted of the crime.
The Answer to the Joint Petition for Relief from Judgment states “All five of the defendants were excluded as the source of a DNA profile found on vaginal and rectal swabs collected from the victim’s body at the Office of the Medical Examiner.” The answer also states that even though no evidence was found as a result of DNA testing, the defendants have not ‘met their burden of proof’ that shows a different result or verdict would have been rendered had the same evidence, or lack thereof, been available at the time.
Illinois State Attorney Anita Alvarez has not made an official public statement on the matter, and attempts to contact her have not been answered.
