New DNA evidence revealed, man jailed for 38 years freed

The United States speaks of the innocence of a man named Maurice Hastings, who has been incarcerated for more than 38 years…

The innocence of the man convicted in 1983 of the death of Roberta Wydermyer and two counts of attempted murder has been confirmed by newly discovered DNA evidence. New DNA records revealed that another inmate who died in 2020 was behind the crimes.

While it was announced that Hastings, 69, had spent 38 years in prison unnecessarily, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon said: “This is a terrible injustice. “The justice system is not perfect, but when new evidence emerged, we acted immediately,” he said.

In 1983, the lifeless body of Roberta Wydermyer was found in the trunk of her car and examinations of the body revealed that she had a gunshot wound to the head. The death penalty was sought for Hastings, who was captured following the death of Wydermyer, who had also been sexually assaulted before, but the jury decided on life in prison in 1988.

“I AM NOT AGAINST ANYONE”

Hastings, who has said he is innocent since the day he was captured, requested a DNA test on the sperm sample found in the victim’s mouth, but this request was denied. Hastings, whose request for a DNA test was accepted in 2021, proved his innocence with the results. As a result of the investigations, it was revealed that the person who murdered Wydermyer was an inmate with a high criminal record.

“For years I have prayed to see this day,” Hastings told the Associated Press. “I don’t blame anyone and no one offends me, I just want to enjoy it while I’m alive.”