Massachusetts Man Exonerated After 27 Years in Prison Awarded $13 Million

Michael Sullivan spent nearly three decades wrongfully imprisoned for a 1986 murder before DNA evidence cleared his name.

Michael Sullivan, now 64, was convicted in 1987 for the murder and robbery of Wilfred McGrath, a crime he consistently denied committing.
Sullivan's conviction was overturned in 2013 after new DNA testing revealed no evidence tying him to the crime, leading to his release and eventual exoneration.
A Massachusetts jury awarded Sullivan $13 million for his wrongful conviction, though state regulations cap payouts at $1 million.
The case highlighted prosecutorial reliance on flawed forensic testimony, including false claims by a state police chemist during Sullivan's original trial.
Sullivan, who lost family members and struggled to adjust after his release, plans to save the award money for his nieces and nephews while seeking therapy and educational support.