Man released after 30 years in prison for crime he didn’t commit following new Shocking Evidence

Gordon Cordeiro, Wrongfully Convicted in 1994 Murder, Walks Free as Judge Vacates Sentence

After spending three decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit, Gordon Cordeiro, 51, has finally been released from prison. New DNA evidence proved his innocence in the 1994 murder of Timothy Blaisdell, a case that has haunted Cordeiro and his family for over 30 years.

Cordeiro, from Maui, Hawaii, was just 20 years old when he was convicted of murder, robbery, and attempted murder in connection with Blaisdell’s death. Blaisdell was found shot to death at the bottom of a ravine on a remote dirt road known locally as “Skid Row.” The victim had reportedly traveled to the area to purchase a pound of marijuana with $800 in cash.

Despite maintaining his innocence and presenting an alibi that he was at home with his family at the time of the killing, Cordeiro was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after a second retrial. His conviction was largely based on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of Michael Freitas, who had accompanied Blaisdell on the day of the murder. Freitas, who passed away in 2020, was later suspected by Cordeiro’s attorneys to have been involved in the crime.

For years, Cordeiro’s family fought to prove his innocence. Their efforts gained traction when The Hawaii Innocence Project took up his case. Recent DNA testing revealed that Cordeiro was not present at the crime scene, corroborating his alibi and casting serious doubt on his conviction.

On what Cordeiro has dubbed “Freedom Friday,” Judge Kirstin Hamman ruled that the new evidence would likely change the outcome of another trial. She vacated his conviction and ordered his immediate release. The emotional moment was captured on camera, with gasps and cries heard in the courtroom as the judge announced her decision.

Cordeiro expressed his gratitude to his family, supporters, and The Hawaii Innocence Project for their unwavering belief in his innocence. “I’d like to thank all these people. This is the people that helped me out,” he told Hawaii News Now. “Without them, I wouldn’t have made it out.”

Under Hawaii law, Cordeiro is now eligible to file for $50,000 in compensation for each year he was wrongfully imprisoned, potentially totaling $1.5 million.

Kenneth Lawson, co-director of The Hawaii Innocence Project, shared in Cordeiro’s joy, stating, “He cried, we all cried.” Lawson criticized the initial investigation, accusing police of mishandling the case and turning the prime suspect, Freitas, into the state’s star witness. “The police botched this case from the beginning and turned the number one suspect into the state’s star witness, resulting in a 30-plus-year nightmare and miscarriage of justice for Gordon and his family,” Lawson said.

However, not everyone agrees with the ruling. Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin argued that the new evidence does not exonerate Cordeiro and has sought to impose bail conditions, citing concerns that Cordeiro could be a flight risk. “None of the judge’s findings exonerate him in any way,” Martin told CBS.

Cordeiro’s release marks a bittersweet victory in a case that highlights the flaws in the criminal justice system. As he begins to rebuild his life, his story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of thorough investigations and the need for reforms to prevent wrongful convictions.

What do you think? Should there be stricter safeguards to prevent wrongful convictions? Share your thoughts in the comments below.