"LAST MONTH, WINSTON-SALEM POLICE ORDERED TESTS OF DNA AFTER OFFICERS RE-EXAMINED OLD POLICE REPORTS AND EVIDENCE, INCLUDING BEDDING WHERE THE CRIME TOOK PLACE. CAPTAIN DAVID CLAYTON SAID LABCORP RETURNED THE RESULTS AND IT CLEARS THEIR POTENTIAL SUSPECT. POLICE NEVER RELEASED THE IDENITY OF THE POTENTIAL SUSPECT."
REPORTER CHELSI ZASH; WFMY NEWS;
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BACKGROUND; Joseph Abbitt was wrongly convicted for the 1991 rapes of two girls for which another man was wrongfully convicted and spent 14 years in prison. A Forsyth County jury convicted Joseph Lamont Abbitt in 1995, and Judge Todd Burke of Forsyth Superior Court sentenced him to two consecutive life sentences, plus 50 years. The N.C. Court of Appeals upheld the convictions in May 1996. Abbitt contacted the N.C. Center on Actual Innocence in 2005 and after DNA testing of remaining evidence, it was determined he was not the attacker. Last September, a Forsyth County judge vacated the life sentences.
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"Winston-Salem, NC -- The results of a DNA test won't identify the real rapist behind a 1991 crime," the May 25, 2010 WFMY story by reporter Chelsi Zash begins, under the heading, "DNA Clears Potential Suspect In Wrongful Conviction Case."
"In 1995, a Forsyth County jury convicted Joseph Abbitt of raping two sisters, ages 13 and 15. Abbitt spent 14 years in prison before DNA evidence exonerated him last September," the story continues.
"Last month, Winston-Salem Police ordered tests of DNA after officers re-examined old police reports and evidence, including bedding where the crime took place.
Captain David Clayton said LabCorp returned the results and it clears their potential suspect. Police never released the idenity of the potential suspect.
Clayton says they have developed another subject on interest, but are nowhere near getting ready to send a DNA sample.
Abbitt has not recieved a pardon from the governor. His attorney, Chris Mumma, previously said charges against a new suspect would help Abbitt's case for a pardon."
The story can be found at:
http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=142739&catid=57
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;