1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

Marcellus Williams, an innocent man on death row in Missouri, faces imminent execution on September 24th, despite compelling DNA evidence and prosecutorial efforts proving his innocence. The substantial forensic evidence collected from the crime scene, including fingerprints, footprints, hair, and DNA on the murder weapon, excludes Williams entirely. His conviction rested solely on the dubious testimony of two incentivized witnesses with lengthy criminal records who provided inconsistent and unverifiable statements. Significantly, new DNA testing confirmed Williams' innocence by demonstrating he could not have been the source of male DNA found on the murder weapon. Although the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney has rightfully filed a motion to vacate Williams' conviction based on this clear and convincing evidence of innocence, the Missouri Attorney General persists in opposing his exoneration. This egregious case epitomizes the grave injustice of wrongful convictions, exacerbated by racial bias throughout the legal process. Williams, a Black man tried by a nearly all-white jury for the murder of a white woman, fell victim to discriminatory practices and the pernicious influence of jailhouse informants, a leading contributor to wrongful convictions nationwide. We implore intervention to halt the execution of an innocent person on September 24th. The refusal to consider the overwhelming proof of Williams' innocence represents an unconscionable violation of justice that cannot be tolerated. A full judicial review of the case and evidence is imperative to rectifying this unacceptable miscarriage of justice and restoring human rights.