Ronald Jones

At trial, the prosecution presented testimony from the victim’s friend identifying Jones as “Bumpy,” and from a victim in a second rape involving “Bumpy” who identified Jones as the attacker. Police claimed that Jones had confessed to involvement in the crime, but Jones said he only signed the confession because he was beaten by Chicago police officers.

Serological testing was also conducted on swabs from the rape kit. The tests revealed blood group markers consistent with Jones and the victim, and an analyst testified incorrectly that the results excluded a large group as possible perpetrators. In fact, when the evidence being tested is a mixed stain of semen from the perpetrator and vaginal secretions from the victim – and testing does not detect blood group substances or enzymes foreign to the victim – no potential semen donor can be excluded because the victim’s blood group markers could be “masking” the perpetrator’s. Under such circumstances, the failure to inform the jury that 100% of the male population could be included and that none can be excluded is highly misleading.

RFLP DNA testing introduced at trial could not rule out Jones, but was inconclusive. Jones was convicted by the jury and sentenced to death by the judge.

The Illinois Supreme Court denied Jones’ petition for a rehearing on October 4, 1993. Jones later filed for DNA testing. The State initially opposed his motion, but eventually consented.

Forensic Science Associates conducted PCR based DNA testing in 1997 and excluded Jones as the donor of the sperm found in the victim.

Based on the DNA results, the State Attorney’s office moved to vacate the conviction in July 1997. The Illinois Supreme Court then ordered a new trial for Jones. In May 1999, the State Attorney’s office decided to drop the charges against Jones.