Eugene Johnson, Derrick Wheatt and Laurese Glover — The so-called East Cleveland 3 — will receive $4.5 million from Cuyahoga County in a major settlement. The County has agreed to pay the three men who, for 20 years, were imprisoned for a murder they did not commit. The payment precludes the possibility of a much larger verdict if the case were to go to trial.
In October 2016, Scene wrote about the East Cleveland 3 after they’d been released from prison. The story recounted the murder of 19-year-old Clifton Hudson in 1995 and the “tunnel vision” that characterized the investigation and prosecution of Johnson, Wheatt and Glover.
Glover told Scene at the time, “If a dude would have come in with a gun and told them, ‘I did it,’ they probably would have been like, ‘Nah, we got three people.'”
In 2015, the Ohio Innocence Project found that evidence had been suppressed at the original trial, evidence in conflict with the state’s theory of the case. The three men had maintained their innocence throughout their incarceration, and Common Pleas Judge Nancy Russo ordered a new trial.
County Council is scheduled to vote on the settlement Tuesday. If passed, each man will receive $1.5 million.
This article appears in Feb 21-27, 2018.
this is great news, there’s been hundreds of these cases in cuyahoga county… let’s bankrupt this city and show the man who’s in charge
This happens all the time all over Ohio and other cities across the nation. People losing everything there youth loved ones etc! Because the courts and police and the justice system in a whole didn’t do there job and because of that people are wrongfully put in prison or in jail. We need a overhaul of the justice system so this will stop happening! These men lost 20 years of there lives for what because someone didn’t do there job in arresting the person or persons that murdered Mr Hudson! And pointed there finger at theses 3 men. I hope these 3 men get every dime that is coming to them!
1.5M is an insult for the unjust act of the cuyahoga county prosecutors office and there should be some criminal charges filed against those who intentionally committed this wrongful act.
1.5M for twenty (20) years of wrongful incarceration. This is an insult!!! Locked
Away from your children and family your parents ,exposure to prison life for long periods is known to causes mental issues
Exposure to high levels of starchy foods.are known to cause diabetes.
Exposure to criminals for long periods of time is known to promote criminal thinking /behavior.we all know that life is not fair but atleast try to make it as fair as possible. I pray that these three men enjoy the rest of their life’s with their families in peace.