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Death Row Inmate Exonerated by DNA After 22 Years
7 Jun
Summary
- Nick Yarris was exonerated through DNA evidence after 22 years on death row.
- He was wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1982.
- His story inspired the Tony-nominated play 'The Fear of 13'.
Nick Yarris made history on January 16, 2004, becoming the first individual in Pennsylvania to be exonerated through DNA evidence after being sentenced to death. He was arrested in December 1981 and subsequently convicted of rape, murder, and abduction in July 1982, leading to a death sentence.
Yarris spent more than two decades on death row, during which he pursued his exoneration through persistent advocacy for DNA testing. His innocence was definitively proven in 2003, resulting in his release the following year. This profound experience has been shared through his writings, interviews, and the 2015 documentary "The Fear of 13."
The documentary "The Fear of 13" was later adapted into a critically acclaimed stage play of the same name, earning two Tony Award nominations. The play, which stars Adrien Brody as Yarris, brings his extraordinary story of wrongful conviction and ultimate vindication to a wider audience, highlighting his enduring fight for justice.
