11/03/2025
The man pictured is Craig Coley. He was wrongfully convicted of a double murder in California in 1978 and spent more than 25 years in prison despite maintaining his innocence. DNA testing later proved he was not involved, and he was released in November 2017 after being exonerated.
This emotional moment captured him hearing the verdict of exoneration after many long years behind bars. Following his exoneration, Craig Coley received a financial settlement from the State of California of $21 million for the years he spent wrongfully imprisoned, making him a prominent symbol of justice and compensation in cases of wrongful conviction.