DNA Test clears Ex-Death Row Inmate

[Happy29]

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Nearly every week, Kirk Bloodsworth brought fellow inmate Kimberly Shay Ruffner his library books. And the two men regularly worked out together in the prison weight yard. But now, prosecutors say the two had a connection never revealed while they were behind bars. On Friday, Ruffner was charged with the murder of a 9-year-old girl - the very crime for which a wrongly convicted Bloodsworth served nine years. Bloodsworth, 43, was twice convicted of the girl's murder and was sentenced to die. But after struggling for years to prove his innocence, he was cleared in 1993, becoming the first American freed from prison because of DNA evidence.

 

[Gollum]

Maybe I read that wrong. But if he was cleared in 1993 then why was he still in prison in 2003.

 

[4xchampncountin]

Originally posted by Gollum@Sep 8 2003, 03:07 PM
Maybe I read that wrong. But if he was cleared in 1993 then why was he still in prison in 2003.

It was kind of cunfusing so I did some research. Bloodsworth was released in 1993 right after the DNA test cleared him. The State of Maryland gave him $300,000 for lost wages in exchange for him agreeing not to pursue a false imprisonment lawsuit. Ruffner was just recently discover to be the source of the DNA found on the girls panties.

Allegedly these men never met until Ruffner was incarcerated (for a different attempted rape and attempted murder charge) a month after Bloodsworth was, at the same facility. Bloodsworth said Ruffner told him he knew about his case and his claim of innocence and set out to try to get him cleared of the crime.