Randolph Arledge walked out of a Navarro County courtroom today after his 1984 murder conviction was overturned because of new DNA evidence pointing to another man who later committed other crimes, including an assault with a similar modus operandi. The Innocence Project sought Arledge’s release after it was discovered that a DNA sample uploaded to the federal DNA database — known as the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS—came back with a match to convicted offender and Navarro County resident, David Sims. Arledge served more than 30 years in prison before being released.
Arledge was joined in court by his children and was congratulated by Texas exonerees Charles Chatman, James Giles, Steven Phillips, Christopher Scott, Victor Thomas, Johnnie Lindsey, Keith Turner, Rickey Wyatt, Richard Miles and David Wiggins upon his release.
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