Convicting the Innocent
DNA Exonerations Database

Larry Ollins

First NameLarry
Last NameOllins
Year of Conviction1988
Year of Exoneration2001
Testing inculpated culpritNon-Cold Hit
State of ConvictionIllinois
Trial, Bench Trial, or Guilty PleaTrial
Type of CrimeRape and Murder
Death SentenceNo
Life / LWOP sentenceLife
Gender of ExonereeMale
Race of exonereeBlack
JuvenileYes
Type of Innocence Defense
  • Third Party Guilt
Description / Quotes from Testimony Concerning Defense

● Hairs found were consistent with another suspect

Did the defendant testify at trial?No
Types of evidence at trial
  • Forensic Evidence
  • Informant
Type of Forensic Evidence
  • Hair
  • Serology
Types of Flawed Forensics
  • Error
  • Invalid
  • Vague
Reason why invalid(1), (2), (3) Masking, false probability, failure to exclude
Brief Quote / Description of Testimony

See above – the same problematic testimony was at issue in this related trial. The analyst testified that questioned hair was “similar” or “could have” originated from defendant.

Jailhouse informant, Co-defendant, Incentivized WitnessCD, IW
Examples of Non-Public or Corroborated Facts and Inconsistencies● Co-defendants Bradford and Ollins’ reported and false confessions, see False Confessions
Quotes from testimony #3

Cooperating witness recanted at trial, testifying “He ain’t told me he killed her.”

Quotes regarding any deal or leniency with informant, or prior use of informant

Cooperating witness claimed that he had earlier, at grand jury, claimed Ollins made admissions only because police had handcuffed him to a ring for 7 hours and told him he would be charged with the crime of concealment unless he implicated Ollins.

Highest level reachedAppeal
Claims Raised During All Appeals and Postconviction
  • Cumulative Error
  • Prosecutorial Misconduct
  • State Law Evidence Claim
Harmless Error Rulings
  • G
  • HE
Citations to judicial opinions

People v. Ollins, 601 N.E.2d 922 (Ill. App. 1 Dist., 1992)
People v. Ollins, 612 N.E.2d 520 (Ill. 1993) (Table)

Read more about this exoneration

Previous post
←  Alan Newton