Longest Wrongful Conviction in Illinois History Ends as Cousins Exonerated After 42 Years

James Soto and David Ayala were convicted on coerced witness testimonies with no physical evidence; Soto plans to use his prison-earned degree to fight for the wrongfully convicted.

• James Soto, 62, and David Ayala, 60, have been exonerated after spending 42 years in prison for a murder they didn't commit, marking the longest wrongful conviction in Illinois history.
• The cousins were convicted based on coerced witness testimonies and there was no physical evidence linking them to the crime.
• Both men received two life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus additional years for attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
• While in prison, Soto earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University's Prison Education Program and now plans to attend law school to help others wrongfully convicted.
• This exoneration is part of a recent series of high-profile exonerations of wrongfully imprisoned individuals.

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