Steven Barnes

Steven Barnes was freed from prison on November 25, 2008, after spending almost 20 years behind bars for the 1985 rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl. He was released after it was established that the DNA found on the victim could not have come from him. Although he has been released from prison, the DA stated that the charges against Barnes have not yet been dropped pending additional investigation.Newsday: DA: Inmate's 1989 Murder Conviction to Be Vacated (November 24, 2008)

Police had gathered four samples containing DNA at the time of the original murder investigation in 1985. Current DNA technology didn't exist at the time of the original trial when Barnes was tried and convicted. In 1996, the Innocence Project got involved in his case, and requested that DNA tests be run on the samples. The samples were found to have significantly degraded, so testing could not be done at that time. DNA analysis technology has continued to evolve, however, and testing was attempted again in 2008. The new tests showed that none of the four samples could have come from Steven Barnes.Syracuse.com: Utica Court Releases Man Exonerated in Murder Case by DNA Evidence (Nov. 26, 2008)

""I never gave up hope...I waited 20 years for this. It's the happiest day of my life."—Steven Barnes, upon his releaseSyracuse.com: Utica Court Releases Man Exonerated in Murder Case by DNA Evidence (Nov. 26, 2008)

"For 20 years I had people telling me what to do, telling me to lock in, telling me to go to chow, telling me go here, telling me to get off the phone...I spent almost 20 Christmases in jail, I used to be locked in Christmas Day."—Steven BarnesWKTV (Utica, NY): Steven Barnes Freed After 20 Years in Prison for 1985 Murder (November 25, 2008)

"They were just looking for a conviction...Steve was in the wrong place at the wrong time."— Steve Lewandrowski, friend who had testified that Barnes was with him the night of the murderSyracuse.com: Utica Court Releases Man Exonerated in Murder Case by DNA Evidence (Nov. 26, 2008)

"“Unvalidated and exaggerated science convicted Steven Barnes and cost him nearly two decades, but real science finally secured his freedom."—Barry ScheckNorth Country Gazette: DNA Frees Wrongfully Convicted... (November 25, 2008)

• DA: DNA clears Oneida County man jailed for 20 years

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• Syracuse.com: Utica Court Releases Man Exonerated in Murder Case by DNA Evidence (Nov. 26, 2008)

• WKTV (Utica, NY): How Science Set Barnes Free (November 25, 2008)

• WKTV (Utica, NY): Steven Barnes Freed After 20 Years in Prison for 1985 Murder (November 25, 2008)

• North Country Gazette: DNA Frees Wrongfully Convicted Oneida County Man (November 25, 2008)

• Newsday: DA: Inmate's 1989 Murder Conviction to Be Vacated (November 24, 2008)

• Google News: Steven Barnes Search