DNA to set Fla. inmate free after 18 years
TAMPA – A Tampa Bay-area man who spent 18 years in prison on a rape conviction is expected to walk free on the strength of new DNA evidence.
Prosecutors in Bradenton said Monday they will drop charges against Derrick Williams after a state circuit judge overturned his conviction and prison sentence last week.
The same gray T-shirt that helped put Williams in prison for life in 1993 resurfaced as the piece of evidence that led to the conviction being thrown out. A DNA expert found it “highly unlikely” that Williams wore the shirt because there was DNA on it from other people but not from Williams.
State Attorney Earl Moreland said he still believes Williams is guilty, but time and legal hurdles make it difficult to prosecute the case again.
More Stories
College Board revises AP African American studies class, faculty concerned about impact on higher education
Assistant professor Kyaien Conner said Gov. Ron DeSantis’ initial rejection of Advanced Placement (AP) African American studies course in Florida could be a precursor to restrictions on critical race theory (CRT) classes in the state’s public universities and colleges. College Board released a revised version of the course on Wednesday, omitting some scholars and figures […]
USF Health to comply with DeSantis’ request for data on gender-affirming care
USF Health will comply with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ request for Florida’s 12 public universities to send information about students who sought gender-affirming care in the last five years, according to Senior Associate Vice President Donna Petersen. “We’ve been asked by the state to provide some information and we will respond. That’s all we know at […]
Black Student Success introduces new Black Heritage Month events
USF is celebrating Black Heritage Month by coordinating new events that will highlight Black culture, music and education on Black life. Pilar Walker, coordinator for Black Student Success, said her vision is to connect with students in a way that makes them feel seen and appreciated while also educating the general USF student body about […]
Transgender rights demonstration held in response to DeSantis’ gender-affirming care investigation
Following an announcement made by Gov. Ron DeSantis to investigate gender-affirming care procedures performed by Florida public universities, freshman communications and music studies double major Brooke Starz felt compelled to take a stand. Starz was one of 12 students handing out flyers linked to a petition for USF leadership to protect transgender students’ rights to […]
‘Sister Cindy’ causes laughter, unease during campus visit
A crowd of students gasped and cheered in front of the Marshall Student Center on Tuesday as social media campus preacher Cindy Smock, known as “Sister Cindy,” evangelized the benefits of an abstinent lifestyle. “At UCF, [students] have mothers that are h*es. Does anyone here have a mother that’s a h*e? Some of them have […]
Pro-life demonstration provokes passionate debate among students regarding abortion rights
A pro-life demonstration in front of Cooper Hall on Tuesday sparked debates between students and the Students for Life of America (SFLA) members on whether life begins at conception or at birth. SFLA President Kristan Hawkins led an open floor discussion for questions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students lined up to speak with […]