A man from Massachusetts, who spent 27 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, was exonerated earlier this month. He was awarded a settlement of $13 million; however, due to state law that caps payments for wrongful convictions, he will only receive $1 million.
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Michael Sullivan, 64, was convicted in 1987 for the murder and robbery of Wilfred McGrath, whose body was discovered behind an abandoned supermarket. Sullivan’s conviction was based on questionable evidence, including false testimony from a state police chemist and accusations from another suspect, Gary Grace. According to the Associated Press, Grace received a reduced sentence in exchange for testifying against Sullivan.
Sullivan explained that he suffered brutal attacks while serving time and also lost opportunities, including a trucking career he had planned before his arrest. Although he filed several appeals to prove his innocence and was denied, DNA testing in 2011 proved key evidence that he was not linked to McGrath’s murder.
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No blood from McGrath was found on Sullivan’s purple jacket, which was a primary focal point during the trial. Sullivan was released in 2013 and finally exonerated in 2019 when prosecutors declined to retry the case.
He said following his release, that it has been difficult for him to adjust to his new environment.
“I don’t go anywhere. I’m scared all the time … I’m pretty much a loner.”
However, he plans to use his settlement money to help his nieces and nephews. Sullivan added that his legal team is helping him with therapy and educational services.
