MICHAEL ANTHONY WILLIAMS
Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Incarcerated at 16 years old, for almost 24 years
Exonerated March 11, 2005 by Innocence Project New York

Michael Anthony Williams was just 16 years old when he was arrested, tried, and wrongfully convicted of a brutal rape he did not commit. The crime occurred on February 21, 1981, when a 22-year-old woman was raped and beaten in her own bedroom. The assailant entered through a window, rummaged through drawers, and left the victim bloodied and traumatized. Despite the lack of physical evidence tying him to the crime, Williams was arrested after the victim - who  once tutored him - identified him as her attacker. She claimed to recognize his voice and face, though the assault occurred in low light.

Williams’ grandmother and sister testified that he was home the entire night after returning from church. No matching clothing or shoes were found, no blood on his clothes, and no physical injuries were present - despite the attacker being covered in the victim’s blood. Yet, based solely on the victim’s testimony, he was convicted in under an hour and sentenced to life without parole.

For decades, Michael maintained his innocence. In 2003, the Innocence Project New York took on his case. Although the rape kit had been lost, testing on the victim’s nightgown and robe revealed semen stains containing male DNA that excluded Williams.  These findings were irrefutable.

On March 11, 2005, the court vacated his conviction and he was exonerated. After spending his youth and much of his adult life in prison, Williams was finally freed. He was 40 years old. Louisiana awarded him $330,000 in state compensation - a small sum for the decades stolen from him.

Michael is now in declining health living in a nursing home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.