Convicting the Innocent
DNA Exonerations Database

Santae Tribble

First Name Santae
Last NameTribble
Year of Conviction1980
Year of Exoneration2012
State of ConvictionDistrict of Columbia
Trial, Bench Trial, or Guilty PleaTrial
Type of CrimeMurder
Death SentenceNo
Gender of ExonereeMale
Race of exonereeBlack
JuvenileNo
Types of evidence at trial
  • Forensic Evidence
  • Informant
Type of Forensic Evidence
  • Ballistics
  • Hair
Types of Flawed Forensics
  • Invalid
Reason why invalid(5) Hair match probability statement relying on experience
Brief Quote / Description of Testimony

Analyst testified that defendant’s hairs “matched in all microscopic characteristics” aAnd "could have originated" from him. Further, only on "rare occasions have I seen hairs of two individuals that show the same characteristics." One could make a stronger conclusion since analyst had matched "probably several" hairs. And ballistics conclusion that casings were all fired from the same weapon

Jailhouse informant, Co-defendant, Incentivized WitnessJ
Highest level reachedAppeal
Claims Raised During All Appeals and Postconviction
  • Sentencing — Noncapital
Citations to judicial opinions

Tribble v. U. S., 447 A.2d 766 (D.C. 1982)