<p>A man who spent seven years in prison for a rape he always insisted he didn’t commit has finally been exonerated by DNA testing.</p>
<p>Leonard Mack, 72, was convicted of rape and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon back in March 1976. He spent seven-and-a-half years in prison for the convictions, but has always maintained his innocence. Now, 47 years after his conviction, DNA testing has proved that he was wrongfully convicted – and pointed to the actual perpetrator.</p>
<p>The Innocence Project <a href="https://innocenceproject.org/news/hit-in-dna-database-proves-leonard-macks-innocence-after-47-years-of-wrongful-conviction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">worked</a> with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit to review evidence from Mack’s conviction and used a DNA profile developed from the evidence, uploaded into state and local DNA databases, to find the real perpetrator. Mack’s wrongful conviction is the longest to be overturned based on DNA evidence.</p>
<p>DNA was not the only evidence to help exonerate Mack. Eyewitness misidentification also played a role, as well as misleading forensic testimony.</p>
<p>“I want to first thank God for this day,” Mack said after he was exonerated. “Next, I want to thank the Innocence Project. Today has been a long time coming. I lost seven-and-a-half years of my life in prison for a crime I did not commit and I have lived with this injustice hanging over my head for almost 50 years. It changed the course of my life — everything from where I lived to my relationship with my family. I never lost hope that one day &#8230; I would be proven innocent. Now the truth has come to light and I can finally breathe. I am finally free.”</p>
<p>On May 22, 1975, two 12th-grade girls were walking home from school in Greenburgh, New York, when a black man in his early 20s approached them with a gun. He ordered them not to scream and threatened to kill them before he blindfolded, gagged, and restrained the girls. He raped one and threatened them before he fled. The other girl broke free of her bindings and ran to a nearby school, where a teacher called the police. The girl who was raped managed to free herself and run home, where her sister also called the police.</p>
<p>A rape kit was collected and the Greenburgh Police Department told officers to be on the lookout for the suspect, who was described as having short hair, no beard, and a medium build. He was wearing a black hat with a white brim, a gold earring in his left ear, black pants, and a tan jacket.</p>
<p>About two-and-a-half hours later, a police officer pulled over Mack, who happened to be wearing a black fedora and had a gold earring in his left ear. Though Mack’s clothing didn’t match, the officer told him he matched the suspect’s description. Mack denied any involvement and said he had been with his girlfriend when the attack occurred, which she corroborated. Police searched Mack’s vehicle and found a .22 caliber handgun, similar to one listed as being used in the rape against the teen girl.</p>
<p><b><a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1694271417371000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PLikBYdCi-jK-0C-P9dx2">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a></b></p>
<p>Mack was arrested, and one of the victims was brought to the scene where he was handcuffed in order to identify him. She wasn’t sure, and asked the officers to move him into a position matching the suspect. When the officers did, she identified him as the assailant. She was then taken to the police station and shown seven photos of black men, including Mack. His photo, however, was different from the others, showing his face and clothing, along with a May 1975 calendar in the background. The victim chose his picture.</p>
<p>Later that evening, the girl was taken to the police station again and again asked to identify Mack, who was presented alone behind a one-way mirror instead of with a group of other black men.</p>
<p>The other victim, who was legally blind and unable to even tell the sex of a person who was standing more than 10 feet away, was given the same suggestive photo lineup and chose Mack’s photo. She did, however, say she couldn’t be sure that it was him. She was also shown Mack himself behind the one-way mirror, with the other victim present telling her “that’s him.” The victim asked to hear Mack’s voice, and identified him as the assailant.</p>
<p>At trial, three people provided an alibi for Mack during the afternoon of the crime. A defense expert testified that sperm found on the victim’s rape kit excluded Mack, since serological testing showed the assailant was blood type A and Mack was not. A state expert incorrectly testified that the victim herself may have been the source of this biological evidence.</p>
<p>Even though Mack had been forensically ruled out in 1976 – before DNA evidence even existed – it took nearly five decades for him to be exonerated using DNA testing.</p>

<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

A Man Spent 7 Years In Prison For A Rape He Didn’t Commit. He Was Just Exonerated.

‘Dangerous Precedent’: Court Sides With University Over Jury in False Rape Defamation Case

Trevor Bauer Wins Lawsuit Against False Accuser. Will The MLB Take Him Back?

Trump Admin Bans Illegal Immigrants From Getting Taxpayer-Backed Mortgages

Texas Man Arrested After Video Allegedly Shows Him Ramming ATV Into Tesla

Kristi Noem Tours El Salvador’s Gang Prison Before Threatening To Deport More Criminals

Columbia Anti-Israel Group Reactivated Instagram Account Just Before Oct. 7 Attack, Lawsuit Says

News

Crime

New York

Rape

U.S.

Wrongful Conviction

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

A Man Spent 7 Years In Prison For A Rape He Didn’t Commit. He Was Just Exonerated.