This story is heartbreaking and incredible all at once.
Jonathan Fleming was convicted in 1989 for the murder of a 22-year-old man in Brooklyn–while Fleming was on vacation with his family at Disney World in Orlando.
A woman claimed to be a witness to the actual murder, but later retracted her statements. It was revealed that she only testified because she was afraid; she’d been arrested before the trial, and worried that she’d incur more charges if she didn’t concoct a story.
Although his lawyers used photos of Fleming on vacation as evidence during the trial, he was still found guilty and spent 25 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. In fact, it was a crime he was incapable of committing, considering the distance involved.
Fleming was even arrested with a receipt for phone calls made from his hotel room in his possession, yet police claimed that they didn’t find it. When the investigation was reopened, the receipt was discovered inside police records. In addition, statements from hotel employees in Orlando, verifying that they saw Fleming at the time of the murder, solidified his innocence. He was released in April.
The newly-freed man is now suing New York City for $162 million, which probably isn’t even enough to cover the quarter of his life that was taken away from him.
An IndieGogo campaign was set up in Fleming’s honor, where supporters could donate to help him get back onto his feet as the lawsuit goes on. It ended in May, but raised almost $50,000. His goal had been $10,000.
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