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STORY: "State compensates Kirk Bloodsworth $400K decades after his exoneration," by Reporter Jayne Miller, published by WBAL TV on October 6, 2021.
GIST: "It took almost 30 years for former death-row inmate Kirk Bloodsworth to get full compensation from the state. Bloodsworth was t Few exonerated inmates have had the impact that Bloodsworth has had on state and federal legislation. The more than $400,000 in compensation approved Wednesday by Maryland's Board of Public Works is now a matter of state law. The vote also makes Blooodsworth the first exoneree to be paid under a new law, named after exoneree Walter Lomax, to compensate wrongfully convicted people. After serving nine years in a Maryland prison, Bloodsworth walked out in June 1993 a free and exonerated man. He had twice been convicted of the rape and killing of a young girl, a crime for which a different man later pleaded guilty. "Exonerees, I think, in general, have a difficult life anyway, and money don't (sic) necessarily buy you love. But it's the next best thing if you don't have anything in order to have some semblance of a life again," Bloodsworth told the 11 News I-Team from his home out of state. The new law uses a formula to compensate people who have been wrongfully convicted. Previously, wrongfully convicted people would typically have to go to court to win compensation. The state was criticized for long delays in considering exonerees' cases. In Bloodsworth's case, his payment took into account a smaller payment Bloodsworth received from the state in 1994 without a process to determine fair compensation. "All I can say is it's a long time coming," Bloodsworth said. "Now, whatever I get is already spent because I got to pay bills. You know, I have had bad health (in) the last couple of years. (I've been) diagnosed with cancer, had a tumor on my liver. I'm not getting any younger." Bloodsworth was a key figure in the repeal of the death penalty in Maryland in 2013. His case also influenced federal legislation. Bloodsworth now heads a nonprofit that advocates for the end of the death penalty and to improve the lives of exonerated people. Currently, he's working to have Social Security benefits applied to the time exonerees wrongfully served in prison, his included."
The entire story can be read at:
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/kirk-bloodworths-case-has-lasting-impact-25-years-after-exoneration/21986084\
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STORY: "Kirk Bloodsworth's case has lasting impact 25 tears after exoneration," by Reporter Jayne Miller, published ny WBALTV on July 18 2021.
GIST: "Kirk Bloodworth walked out of prison a free man 25 years ago Thursday, making history as the first death-row inmate to be exonerated by DNA.
The case has lasting impact. Time has healed many things, but the memory of his ordeal remains vivid.
"It feels like yesterday to me," Bloodsworth said.
Bloodsworth walked out of a Jessup prison on June 28, 1993, as the first person in the country to serve time on death row and be exonerated by DNA.
When asked how he feels, Bloodsworth said, "Fantastic ... and you came out in that light and everything just went 'ching!' It's like 'Alice in Wonderland.' I ain't Alice, but boy I felt like her."
Bloodsworth had been convicted in Baltimore County of the rape and murder of 9-year-old Dawn Hamilton in 1984. The DNA testing that proved his innocence came after a lengthy 11 News I-Team investigation of the case.
The I-Team revealed that police mishandled and lost critical evidence. Other leads weren't pursued. Prosecutors relied almost solely on testimony from witnesses who reported seeing Bloodsworth in the area of the crime. One witness told the I-Team that she could have made a mistake.
Bloodsworth's break came because then-Baltimore County Judge Jim Smith saved some of the case evidence.
A lab in California found semen on the victim's underwear. DNA testing, which was unavailable at the time of the crime, eliminated Bloodsworth as the source in May 1993.
"I remember that day I got that Post-It note stuck in my cell door. It said, 'Urgent! Call your attorney! Kirk, you're innocent,'" Bloodsworth said.
Shawn Armbrust, executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, credits Bloodsworth's advocacy for reforms since his exoneration.
"He has influenced policy, he has influenced individual cases, and so his case has had more impact than others," Armbrust said.
In 2013, Maryland repealed its death penalty. Bloodsworth is a living example of its flaws.
"I just felt like the death penalty was not solid enough to give it a shot. When you've executed five people and exonerated one, there ain't a doggone bookie in Vegas (that will) take them odds," Bloodsworth said.
Nationally, the 2004 Innocence Protection Act mandated death penalty reforms and created federal post-conviction DNA testing grants that bear Bloodsworth's name.
Armbrust said the Bloodsworth case has another legacy.
"There are individuals who, as a result of Kirk's case, have recognized that the system can get it wrong," Armbrust said.
Bloodsworth has learned the craft of making jewelry. Two products reflect his story include an exonoree's ring and a design that mimics DNA.
Recently, Bloodsworth contacted the governor's office in Maryland, seeking additional compensation for his wrongful conviction. He was paid $300,000 in 1994.
"I'm 57 years old. I got Type 2 diabetes. I lost all my Social Security for all those 10 years, nine years, I guess," Bloodsworth said. "(I'm) the only death-row inmate that they had exonerated in their life, and they made sure that others wouldn't suffer the same fate. They ought to treat me a little better than that."
The governor's office told 11 News that it is preparing a response to Bloodsworth's request for additional compensation.
In 2004, another man with a history of sexual assault pleaded guilty to Hamilton's killing. Kimberly Ruffner was identified as the real killer through DNA. He is serving a sentence of life in prison."
The entire story can be read at:
