Convicting the Innocent
DNA Exonerations Database

Richard Gagnon

First Name Richard
Last NameGagnon
Year of Conviction2008
Year of Exoneration2015
Testing inculpated culpritCold Hit
State of ConvictionSouth Carolina
Type of CrimeMurder
Death SentenceNo
Life / LWOP sentenceLife without parole
Gender of ExonereeMale
Race of exonereeWhite
JuvenileNo
Types of evidence at trial
  • DNA excluded
  • Forensic Evidence
  • Informant
Type of Forensic Evidence
  • DNA
  • Serology
Types of Flawed Forensics
  • Valid (Excluded)
Brief Quote / Description of Testimony

DNA excluded defendant, but serology on shoe matched that of victim

Jailhouse informant, Co-defendant, Incentivized WitnessJ
Quotes from testimony #3

“He never said he shot them." “He said, ‘I did it.’”

Highest level reachedAppeal
Claims Raised During All Appeals and Postconviction
  • State Court Newly Discovered Evidence Claim
Claims granted, resulting in preexon. reversal
  • State Court Newly Discovered Evidence Claim
Citations to judicial opinions

State v. Gagnon, No. 06-GS-26-0594 (SC 2003)

Previous post
←  Larry Fuller