John Miller was all smiles after being freed from prison for a murder he didn’t commit. You would think someone wrongfully incarcerated might look more frustrated, but he said, “Everything happens for a reason.” So how did someone so positive end up imprisoned?
He was locked up in 1997 in Philly, because someone lied when they got arrested for a crime. There was no evidence, but Miller still was convicted because someone else wanted to get off easy. That person later ADMITTED they actually committed the murder, but John was STILL kept in prison.
Now John can celebrate. Thanks to the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, who filed many appeals that got denied, they were eventually able to help him obtain freedom. The current district attorney’s office reviewed his case after it was appealed to federal court and didn’t retry him.
The district attorney’s office in Philadelphia has a Conviction Integrity Unit that reviewed John’s case, but not everyone makes it out like this. He spent 21 years locked up for a crime he didn’t commit even after someone confessed. There are plenty more out there like him!
Not everyone has the ability to contact lawyers to help them like John did. We can’t neglect those people. However, we’re happy he made it out and he’s with his family celebrating.
We need far better district attorneys to prevent cases like his, and look into the ones that have passed!