Roy Blackmon celebrates his release from prison Tuesday after being wrongfully convicted in a murder case and serving 27 years.
From Michigan Law
A Detroit man regained his freedom from prison Tuesday, thanks to the work of the Michigan Innocence Clinic (MIC)—27 years to the day after his wrongful conviction in a murder case.
Roy Blackmon, who was convicted entirely on false witness testimony coerced by Detroit police, plans to use his freedom to finish college, become a social worker, and give back to the community.
—————
Police target the wrong man
The case began on April 12, 1998, when three people were shot on Woodmont Street in Detroit. One man died, but another man and a woman survived.
Although he had no criminal record—and was home with his then-girlfriend at the time of the shooting—Blackmon became a person of interest because of his ties to the neighborhood.
The man who survived the shooting knew Blackmon, did not initially implicate him, and gave a description of the shooter that did not match Blackmon. Nevertheless, according to the stipulation filed in court, Detroit police used threats to coerce several witness statements that pointed to Blackmon.
At Blackmon’s trial, no physical evidence was presented to tie him to the incident. Witness testimony implicated him, but this included a number of inconsistencies, such as the time of the shooting and what the witnesses could and could not have seen.
One witness testified that police threatened her with an accessory to murder charge if she did not implicate Blackmon. She also said that her signed statement to police was written by Barbara Simon, a police investigator with a documented history of coercing false statements—conduct that has been identified in multiple cases, including those of former MIC clients Mark Craighead, Lamarr Monson, Justly Johnson, Kendrick Scott, and George Calicut Jr., all of which resulted in exonerations.
On March 31, 1999, the jury convicted Blackmon of second-degree murder, felony firearm, and two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. He was sentenced to 40 to 60 years in prison, plus two years.
—————
The fight for freedom
While in prison, Blackmon fought his conviction—including the prosecution’s characterization of him as a gang member. A federal habeas corpus petition on that issue was granted by the federal district court in December 2010, and Blackmon left prison on an appeal bond.
However, in October 2012, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision. Blackmon self-reported back to prison and continued his fight.
The Michigan Innocence Clinic took up the case in 2021. Their investigation uncovered widespread coercive practices in the case by three Detroit police officers, including Simon, that led to false written statements and court testimony.
The investigation revealed that most eyewitnesses’ descriptions of the shooter did not match Blackmon’s height or build. The MIC also identified a potential alternate suspect who did match the descriptions.
“Our investigation simply confirmed what the witnesses in this case tried to tell the jury at trial back in 1999—the police orchestrated a false narrative that Roy Blackmon committed this crime,” said Olivia Vigiletti, ’22, a clinical fellow with the Michigan Innocence Clinic and lead counsel on the case. “A federal court rightfully ruled in 2010 that Mr. Blackmon was deprived of a fair trial. But after that decision was overturned on appeal in 2012, Mr. Blackmon did the unthinkable and self-reported back to prison to continue to fight for his freedom from inside.”
Over several years, 12 student-attorneys worked on the case: Andres Alvarado, Sylvia Al-Mateen, Alanna Autler, Caroline Haskins, Rob Harrington, Brooke Isabel, Nat Jordan, Alex Kremer, Karissa Rendon, Anna Scott, Devon Schwitzman, and Maureen Tabet.
Presented with the results of the MIC investigation, in partnership with the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office agreed to vacate Blackmon’s conviction and dismiss the charges against him. On March 31, exactly 27 years after his conviction, Blackmon went free.
“Though it took far longer than it should have, this time, Mr. Blackmon’s fight for his freedom is truly over,” said Rendon.
—————
Looking to a bright future
Blackmon earned his associate’s degree in faith and community leadership from Calvin University in 2025 and has continued his education since then. Following his release, he will prepare for his senior year of college, pursuing a bachelor’s degree from Calvin University in applied leadership.
“Coming home from prison after a nearly 28-year battle is not an easy transition, but Mr. Blackmon is a resilient man, and our growing community of re-entry allies are ready to welcome him home,” Vigiletti said.
“We are specifically grateful to the Calvin Prison Initiative for their support of Mr. Blackmon as he transitions to Calvin University in the fall. We are also grateful for the Organization of Exonerees and the rest of our exoneree and re-entry support community here in Michigan who are here to help.”
Blackmon intends to continue his education to become a social worker and a mentor to youth like him, who lack support growing up and become a target of the police.
“Through all of the injustice, Mr. Blackmon chose to be an asset to his community during his time in prison. Our community will certainly benefit from his return as well,” said Schwitzman.
The Michigan Innocence Clinic is the first non-DNA innocence clinic in the country. Since its founding in 2009, the MIC has won relief in 48 cases on behalf of its wrongfully convicted clients. MIC exonerees have served anywhere from a few months to 46 years in prison.
A Detroit man regained his freedom from prison Tuesday, thanks to the work of the Michigan Innocence Clinic (MIC)—27 years to the day after his wrongful conviction in a murder case.
Roy Blackmon, who was convicted entirely on false witness testimony coerced by Detroit police, plans to use his freedom to finish college, become a social worker, and give back to the community.
—————
Police target the wrong man
The case began on April 12, 1998, when three people were shot on Woodmont Street in Detroit. One man died, but another man and a woman survived.
Although he had no criminal record—and was home with his then-girlfriend at the time of the shooting—Blackmon became a person of interest because of his ties to the neighborhood.
The man who survived the shooting knew Blackmon, did not initially implicate him, and gave a description of the shooter that did not match Blackmon. Nevertheless, according to the stipulation filed in court, Detroit police used threats to coerce several witness statements that pointed to Blackmon.
At Blackmon’s trial, no physical evidence was presented to tie him to the incident. Witness testimony implicated him, but this included a number of inconsistencies, such as the time of the shooting and what the witnesses could and could not have seen.
One witness testified that police threatened her with an accessory to murder charge if she did not implicate Blackmon. She also said that her signed statement to police was written by Barbara Simon, a police investigator with a documented history of coercing false statements—conduct that has been identified in multiple cases, including those of former MIC clients Mark Craighead, Lamarr Monson, Justly Johnson, Kendrick Scott, and George Calicut Jr., all of which resulted in exonerations.
On March 31, 1999, the jury convicted Blackmon of second-degree murder, felony firearm, and two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. He was sentenced to 40 to 60 years in prison, plus two years.
—————
The fight for freedom
While in prison, Blackmon fought his conviction—including the prosecution’s characterization of him as a gang member. A federal habeas corpus petition on that issue was granted by the federal district court in December 2010, and Blackmon left prison on an appeal bond.
However, in October 2012, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision. Blackmon self-reported back to prison and continued his fight.
The Michigan Innocence Clinic took up the case in 2021. Their investigation uncovered widespread coercive practices in the case by three Detroit police officers, including Simon, that led to false written statements and court testimony.
The investigation revealed that most eyewitnesses’ descriptions of the shooter did not match Blackmon’s height or build. The MIC also identified a potential alternate suspect who did match the descriptions.
“Our investigation simply confirmed what the witnesses in this case tried to tell the jury at trial back in 1999—the police orchestrated a false narrative that Roy Blackmon committed this crime,” said Olivia Vigiletti, ’22, a clinical fellow with the Michigan Innocence Clinic and lead counsel on the case. “A federal court rightfully ruled in 2010 that Mr. Blackmon was deprived of a fair trial. But after that decision was overturned on appeal in 2012, Mr. Blackmon did the unthinkable and self-reported back to prison to continue to fight for his freedom from inside.”
Over several years, 12 student-attorneys worked on the case: Andres Alvarado, Sylvia Al-Mateen, Alanna Autler, Caroline Haskins, Rob Harrington, Brooke Isabel, Nat Jordan, Alex Kremer, Karissa Rendon, Anna Scott, Devon Schwitzman, and Maureen Tabet.
Presented with the results of the MIC investigation, in partnership with the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office agreed to vacate Blackmon’s conviction and dismiss the charges against him. On March 31, exactly 27 years after his conviction, Blackmon went free.
“Though it took far longer than it should have, this time, Mr. Blackmon’s fight for his freedom is truly over,” said Rendon.
—————
Looking to a bright future
Blackmon earned his associate’s degree in faith and community leadership from Calvin University in 2025 and has continued his education since then. Following his release, he will prepare for his senior year of college, pursuing a bachelor’s degree from Calvin University in applied leadership.
“Coming home from prison after a nearly 28-year battle is not an easy transition, but Mr. Blackmon is a resilient man, and our growing community of re-entry allies are ready to welcome him home,” Vigiletti said.
“We are specifically grateful to the Calvin Prison Initiative for their support of Mr. Blackmon as he transitions to Calvin University in the fall. We are also grateful for the Organization of Exonerees and the rest of our exoneree and re-entry support community here in Michigan who are here to help.”
Blackmon intends to continue his education to become a social worker and a mentor to youth like him, who lack support growing up and become a target of the police.
“Through all of the injustice, Mr. Blackmon chose to be an asset to his community during his time in prison. Our community will certainly benefit from his return as well,” said Schwitzman.
The Michigan Innocence Clinic is the first non-DNA innocence clinic in the country. Since its founding in 2009, the MIC has won relief in 48 cases on behalf of its wrongfully convicted clients. MIC exonerees have served anywhere from a few months to 46 years in prison.
Michigan Innocence Clinic team members included (l-r) 3L Devon Schwitzman, former Clinical Fellow Elizabeth Cole, Nat Jordan, ’25, Clinical Fellow Olivia Vigiletti, 3L Karissa Rendon.
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