After being falsely convicted, a Philadelphia man has been released after more than three decades in prison.
According to CNN 60 year old Curtis Crosland said, “I feel exceedingly joyful, happy, that finally, you know … after 30 or more years, after constantly knocking on the door for somebody to please hear me, that day finally came.”
Crosland has been extremely happy to finally be home with his five children, fiancee and 32 grandchildren. “It’s a great feeling to still be dad, to be wanted and desired, and open arms to receive you, that’s been the greatest part of being exonerated, that I come home to a loving family that wants and needs me,” he shared.
Crosland was convicted of second-degree murder, robbery, and possession of a weapon of crime in the 1984 death of a Philadelphia business owner in 1991.
The records to show his innocence were available at the start of the prosecution, according to the lawsuit, but the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office ignored them. According to sources, there were files containing two critical witnesses as well as police data pertaining to another suspect, which could have resulted in Crosland’s acquittal.
He was not linked to the crime by any other evidence. We’ve all heard stories about people being unfairly convicted, especially people of color. Hopefully, things will improve sooner rather than later, but at the very least, Crosland is back at home with his family.
