Troy Webb
In October 1996, Troy Webb was exonerated of a 1988 abduction and sexual assault in Virginia Beach. Mr. Webb was granted a pardon after DNA testing obtained by the Innocence Project excluded him as the perpetrator. He had spent nearly eight years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
The Crime
At about 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 24, 1988, a 25-year-old white cocktail waitress arrived home from work in Virginia Beach. As she got out of her car, a Black man pointed a gun at her face and demanded her money and her purse. After she handed them over, the man led her to a dimly lit area beside her building, where he raped her. He then dumped out her purse and took her wallet.
Afterward, the two verbally agreed to part. The victim watched him walk away before she ran into her apartment. She first called her mother and then the police. She was taken to a hospital where a rape kit was collected.
The Investigation
Although the victim was shaken up, she helped the police construct a sketch of the suspect. She viewed many mugshots of possible suspects but made no identification.
Five months later in June 1988, the police presented to her another photographic lineup. This time, she selected the photograph of 21-year-old Troy Webb as her attacker. He was included in the lineup because he was on probation for being present at a gang rape, though the judge found that Mr. Webb did not participate.
On June 18, 1988, Mr. Webb was arrested and charged with rape, abduction with intent to defile, robbery, and use of a firearm during the commission of a robbery.
The Trial
In February 1989, Mr. Webb went to trial in Virginia Beach City Circuit Court.
The prosecution presented evidence that the victim had picked out a photograph of Mr. Webb at the police station. After declaring that she was 99% sure that Mr. Webb was her attacker, she was shown another photographic lineup that included a younger picture of him, and identified him once again. She identified Mr. Webb in court as well.
A forensic analyst conducted serology testing on the rape kit evidence and found type A blood antigens, which did not belong to either Mr. Webb or victim. This should have been enough to exclude Mr. Webb as a possible perpetrator. However, the analyst explained that because Mr. Webb was a nonsecretor, meaning that his blood type did not show up in his bodily fluids, he could have contributed to a mixed sample.
On Feb. 12, 1989, a jury convicted Mr. Webb on all charges. He was sentenced to 47 years in prison.
All of Mr. Webb’s appeals were unsuccessful.
The Exoneration
In 1993, Mr. Webb wrote to the Innocence Project asking for help in obtaining DNA testing.
In 1996, after taking on Mr. Webb’s case, the Innocence Project sought access to the evidence. After a motion for DNA testing was granted, the testing was performed at the Virginia State Police crime laboratory. Test results excluded Mr. Webb as the perpetrator.
On Oct. 16, 1996, Virginia Gov. George Allen granted the request for a pardon filed by the Innocence Project. Mr. Webb was released from prison that day.
Gov. Allen subsequently signed a bill approved by the state legislature that awarded Mr. Webb $375,000 in compensation.
Time Served:
7.5 years
State: Virginia
Charge: Rape, Abduction With Intent to Defile, Robbery, Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Robbery
Conviction: Rape, Abduction With Intent to Defile, Robbery, Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Robbery
Sentence: 47 years
Incident Date: 01/24/1988
Conviction Date: 02/12/1989
Exoneration Date: 10/16/1996
Accused Pleaded Guilty: No
Contributing Causes of Conviction: Eyewitness Misidentification, Unvalidated or Improper Forensic Science
Death Penalty Case: No
Race of Exoneree: African American
Race of Victim: Caucasian
Status: Exonerated by DNA
Alternative Perpetrator Identified: No
Type of Crime: Sex Crimes
Forensic Science at Issue: Flawed Serology
Year of Exoneration: 1996