Convicting the Innocent
DNA Exonerations Database

William Barnhouse

First NameWilliam
Last NameBarnhouse
Year of Conviction1992
Year of Exoneration2017
State of ConvictionIndiana
Trial, Bench Trial, or Guilty PleaTrial
Type of CrimeRape
Death SentenceNo
Gender of ExonereeMale
Race of exonereeWhite
JuvenileNo
Mentally Ill or Intellectually DisabledMentally Ill
Type of Innocence Defense
  • Mistaken Identification
Types of evidence at trial
  • Eyewitness
  • Forensic Evidence
Type of Forensic Evidence
  • Hair
  • Serology
Types of Flawed Forensics
  • Invalid
  • Vague
Reason why invalidHair comparison described as a certain "match"
Identity of eyewitness
  • Victim
Lineup Procedures
  • Showup
Suggestive Procedures

Show up was conducted especially suggestively with defendant standing next to three squad cars and police shining flashlights in his face

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