A Kentucky man who claims he was wrongfully convicted in a decades-old “satanic” murder of a teen girl is awarded $24.35 million, according to reporting from multiple outlets. The man was sentenced to life in prison and served more than 22 years before being freed. The case centers on the killing of a teenage girl that occurred about 30 years ago, which was described in media coverage as involving “satanic” elements.
Both sources report that the payout is a record amount for wrongful convictions in Kentucky, presented as a response to the conviction being overturned or otherwise determined to be unjust. They also note that the person who is believed to be the real killer has not been publicly identified, and remains at large as of the reports.
The accounts focus on the man’s release after his conviction is challenged and on the size of the compensation awarded, while also emphasizing the unresolved nature of who actually committed the crime.
