John Kogut
After a three month bench trial, Judge Ort found Kogut not guilty on all counts. His verdict included specific findings that numerous aspects of the confession were contradicted by DNA and other forensic evidence, and that the decomposed hairs from the victim were not shed by her in Restivo’s van.
Time Served:
19 years
State: New York
Charge: Murder, Rape
Conviction: Murder, Rape
Sentence: 31.5 Years to Life
Incident Date: 11/10/1984
Conviction Date: 05/28/1986
Exoneration Date: 12/21/2005
Accused Pleaded Guilty: No
Contributing Causes of Conviction: False Confessions or Admissions, Informants, Unvalidated or Improper Forensic Science
Death Penalty Case: No
Race of Defendant: Caucasian
Race of Victim: Caucasian
Status: Exonerated by DNA
Alternative Perpetrator Identified: No
Type of Crime: Homicide-related, Sex Crimes
Forensic Science at Issue: Hair Analysis