| First Name | Juan |
| Last Name | Rivera |
| Year of Conviction | 1993 |
| Year of Exoneration | 2012 |
| State of Conviction | Illinois |
| Trial, Bench Trial, or Guilty Plea | 3 Trials |
| Type of Crime | Rape and Murder |
| Death Sentence | No |
| Life / LWOP sentence | Life |
| Gender of Exoneree | Male |
| Race of exoneree | Hispanic |
| Juvenile | No |
| Types of evidence at trial |
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| Were non-public facts alleged? | Yes |
| Type of Forensic Evidence |
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| Types of Flawed Forensics |
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| Examples of Non-Public or Corroborated Facts and Inconsistencies | ● Victim was babysitting two children, a boy and a girl. ● Washed hands in the sink after murder. ● Victim’s apartment had two floors, was messy with clothes strewn everywhere, and a TV was on. ● Victim raped, vaginally and anally. ● Victim cut more than two times with knife ● Knife broken into two pieces ● Left through back door, breaking it with a mop BUT ● DNA excluded at third trial ● Inconsistencies included what victim was wearing, directions to the house, not mentioning breaking the back door ● Interrogation session was resumed to clear up "inconsistencies" |
| Quotes from law enforcement testimony | "Q. You didn’t suggest anything to Juan, did you, as to what his answer should be? A: No, sir. We were having a conversational explanation of what occurred….” “Q. Did you suggest that’s why the knife was hidden in the backyard? A: No, sir.” |
| Interrogation Recorded | Written and signed confession statement |
| Highest level reached | Appeal |
| Claims Raised During All Appeals and Postconviction |
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| Claims granted, resulting in preexon. reversal |
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| Harmless Error Rulings |
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| Citations to judicial opinions | People v. Rivera, 708 N.E.2d 1282 (Ill. App.3d 1996) |