Guilty Until Proven Innocent

TO GET TO THE TRUTH .>> Reporter: THE TROUBLE STARTED NEARLY THREE DECADES AGO, WHEN RETIRED DETECTIVE- LIEUTENANT MIKE SOLAN WORKED SO DILIGENTLY TO SOLVE A BRUTAL RAPE CASE IN HAMMOND, INDIANA .>> I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, MAUREEN .>> Reporter: UH- HUH .>> WHEN YOU DO A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, YOU WATCH WHERE THE EVIDENCE TAKES YOU, AND YOU FOLLOW IT .>> THIS WAS TUNNEL- VISION POLICE WORK, AND THEY LET THE REAL BAD GUYS GO .>> Reporter: INDIANA UNIVERSITY LAW PROFESSOR FRAN WATSON RUNS THE UNIVERSITY'S WRONGFUL CONVICTION CLINIC, WHERE EVERY SEMESTER LAW STUDENTS LIKE MAX, POLLY AND BRENDA, EAGERLY SIGN UP TO HELP WATSON INVESTIGATE CASES. DID IT CHANGE YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE LAW OR THE SYSTEM ?>> I GUESS I STARTED MY CAREER KNOWING THAT THE SYSTEM CAN FAIL .>> Reporter: FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, PROFESSOR WATSON HAS ENLISTED HUNDREDS OF HER STUDENTS TO HELP HER BATTLE DETECTIVE SOLAN AND THE ENTIRE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, TO OVERTURN THE CONVICTIONS OF ROOSEVELT GLENN AND DARRYL PINKINS .>> YOU START LOOKING AT THE CASE, THINKING, " FRAN CANNOT POSSIBLY BE RIGHT ABOUT THIS ." I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE GOT CONVICTED FOR A REASON .>> Reporter: THEIR

STUDY THE CASE FILE-- THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, A VICTIM I. D ., THE POLITICAL PRESSURE TO SOLVE THE CASE QUICKLY, AND ACCUSATIONS OF RACISM .>> AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, EACH OF US HAD OUR OWN " AH- HA" MOMENTS .>> Reporter: IT WAS ABOUT 1: 00 A. M ., DECEMBER, 7, 1989, AND THE FIRST OF TWO BUMP- AND- ROBS THAT WOULD OCCUR THAT NIGHT WAS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE. FLIGHT ATTENDANT JILL MARTIN WAS ON HER WAY HOME ON INTERSTATE 65, NOT FAR FROM HAMMOND, WHEN SHE WAS BUMPED FROM BEHIND .>> A CAR OCCUPIED BY AT LEAST THREE BLACK MALES. SHE PULLS OVER, AND THE CAR PULLS IN FRONT OF HER. AND THEN, A MAN COMES OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THAT CAR AND CALMLY WALKS TO HER CAR. AND THE BLACK MAN SAYS, " ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, MA'AM ?" FORTUNATELY FOR HER, A PICKUP TRUCK WAS COMING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND STARTED TO PULL BEHIND THEM, THINKING IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. ALL THREE BLACKS WALKED RAPIDLY TO THAT CAR, GOT IN AND LEFT .>> Reporter: JILL MARTIN SAID THE MEN TOOK OFF. STILL, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT THEIR CAR AND WRITE DOWN A PARTIAL LICENSE PLATE NUMBER. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, ANOTHER BUMP- AND- ROB. THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE, WHO WE WILL CALL " JANE ," WAS ALSO ON HER WAY HOME. 26- YEAR- OLD JANE WAS STOPPED AT THIS TRAFFIC LIGHT, JUST ONE BLOCK FROM HER HOME AND HUSBAND, WHEN SHE WAS BUMPED FROM BEHIND .>> SO, SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND SHE WALKED TO THE BACK OF HER CAR. AND A BLACK MAN GETS OUT OF THE CAR AND WALKS VERY CALMLY, VERY LEISURELY TO HER AND SAYS, " ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, MA'AM ?">> Reporter: THE EXACT SAME WORDS FLIGHT ATTENDANT JILL MARTIN REPORTED HEARING LESS THAN AN HOUR EARLIER. BUT THIS TIME, THERE WAS NO ESCAPE .>> BEFORE SHE HAS A CHANCE TO RESPOND, HE GRABS HER BY THE ARM .>> Reporter: JANE SAYS IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST. TWO OTHER MEN APPEARED, GRABBED HER FROM BEHIND AND FORCED HER INTO THEIR CAR. THEN, BOTH CARS SPED OFF. JANE WOULD LATER REPORT THAT SHE WAS STRIPPED NAKED, AND ALL FIVE MEN TOOK TURNS BRUTALLY ASSAULTING HER IN THE BACKSEAT OF THEIR CAR .>> SHE GAVE A VERY DETAILED STATEMENT TO LIEUTENANT SOLAN .>> Reporter: FORMER LAKE COUNTY PROSECUTOR, JOE CUROSH. IT'S HER TESTIMONY THAT ALL FIVE MEN EJACULATED .>> UH- HUH .>> Reporter: SOLAN HAD THE RAPIST'S SEMEN, GIVING HIM THEIR D. N. A. BUT THE NATIONAL D. N. A. DATABASE DID NOT EXIST YET, SO HE STILL HAD TO FIND THE ATTACKERS. BUT SOLAN DID HAVE THESE WORKMAN'S COVERALLS, ALSO CALLED " GREENS ." JANE'S ATTACKERS HAD USED THEM TO COVER HER EYES. SHE WAS STILL CLUTCHING THEM WHEN SHE WAS FORCED BACK INTO HER OWN CAR AND RELEASED .>> " WESTEX LOT NUMBER 311" WAS STAMPED INTO THE GREENS. THERE WAS A TAG THERE SAYING " SIZE MEDIUM .">> Reporter: SOLAN TRACKED EVERY PAIR OF MEDIUM COVERALLS STAMPED " WESTEX LOT NUMBER 311" UNTIL HE GOT TO A SCRAP METAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY CALLED LURIA BROTHERS .>> AND I TOOK THE GREENS OUT OF THE BAG, AND I HELD THEM UP, OKAY. KEVIN BARKER, WHO TAKES CARE OF GREENS, SAYS, " IF THOSE ARE OUR GREENS, I KNOW WHO WE GAVE THEM TO .">> Reporter: ROOSEVELT GLENN WAS AN EMPLOYEE AT LURIA BROTHERS, WHO WORE MEDIUM- SIZED GREENS. FOUR DAYS AFTER THE ATTACK, GLENN REPORTED HIS COVERALLS HAD BEEN STOLEN ON THE NIGHT IN QUESTION. TWO MORE EMPLOYEES HAD ALSO SUBMITTED AND SIGNED REPORTS STATING THAT THEIR COVERALLS WERE STOLEN THAT NIGHT, AS WELL-- DARRYL PINKINS AND A MAN NAMED BILL DURDEN .>> BECAUSE THEY SIGNED THOSE SHEETS, THEY ATTACHED TO EACH OTHER THAT THE NIGHT OF THE RAPE THEY WERE TOGETHER WHEN THEY LEFT LURIA BROTHERS .>> Reporter: THAT'S NOT ALL SOLAN TRACKED TO LURIA BROTHERS. BASED ON DESCRIPTIONS GIVEN BY BOTH WOMEN, SOLAN DETERMINED THAT THE CAR THE ATTACKERS WERE DRIVING THAT NIGHT WAS A 1970s GREEN PONTIAC CATALINA. SO, HE TRACKED DOWN EVERY SINGLE REGISTERED CAR IN THE AREA THAT FIT THE DESCRIPTION .>> FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE ONLY NINE IN THE LAKE AND PORTER COUNTIES, REGISTERED CARS OF THAT NATURE-- SEVEN BELONGING TO WHITE PEOPLE, TWO BELONGING TO BLACK PEOPLE .>> Reporter: ONE OF THOSE TWO CARS BELONGED TO GARY DANIELS, A JANITOR AT LURIA BROTHERS. SOLAN NOW BELIEVED HE HAD A FOURTH RAPE SUSPECT. THERE WAS JUST ONE PROBLEM. REMEMBER, JILL MARTIN HAD GIVEN POLICE A PARTIAL LICENSE PLATE NUMBER. DID THE PLATE MATCH ON GARY DANIELS' CAR ?>> NO .>> Reporter: BUT THE PLATES DID MATCH A CAR THAT HAD BEEN STOLEN THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ATTACK. SOLAN CONTENDS THE MEN STOLE THAT CAR, SOLD IT FOR SCRAP METAL AND PUT THE STOLEN PLATES ON DANIELS' CAR. WHY NOT JUST USE THE STOLEN VEHICLE ?>> I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THEY STOLE A CAR .>> Reporter: BUT THE FACT IS, THESE MEN WERE NEVER CHARGED WITH STEALING ANY CAR, AND NO D. N. A. WAS EVER FOUND IN DANIELS' CAR LINKING IT TO THE CRIME. SOLAN STILL NEEDED ONE MORE SUSPECT. JANE SAID \ FIVE \ MEN ATTACKED HER, SO SOLAN WENT BACK TO LURIA

BARRY JACKSON. WHAT DID YOU HAVE ON JACKSON ?>> JACKSON, EVERYBODY SAID HE'S OUT WITH THEM ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. AND THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR THE JUDGE TO SAY, " OKAY .">> Reporter: SOLAN EASILY GOT AN ARREST WARRANT FOR ALL FIVE MEN .>> I REMEMBER HIM COMING TO MY HOUSE, KNOCKING ON MY DOOR AND ASKING ME, " WHY DON'T YOU TELL YOUR SON TO PLEAD GUILTY ?" I SAID, " OH, NO, DARRYL IS NOT GUILTY OF NOTHING ," AND I SLAMMED THE DOOR IN HIS FACE. AND I TOLD HIM, " DON'T COME TO MY HOUSE ANYMORE ."��>> Reporter: ROOSEVELT GLENN, WHO, LIKE DARRYL PINKINS, HAD NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW ...>> IT'S OKAY. TAKE YOUR TIME .>> Reporter: ... WILL NEVER FORGET THE DAY HE WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH A MONSTROUS CRIME .>> IT WAS A LITTLE HARD BECAUSE I KNOW THE PICTURE THEY WAS PAINTING OF ME WAS FUR... FURTHEST FROM THE TRUTH. I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE A NIGHT AND DAY SITUATION .>> WELL, I'M A RAPE ADVOCATE, AND I KNEW THAT HE DIDN'T FIT ALL THOSE CHARACTERISTICS LIKE THAT .>> ME AND MY SISTER, PROBABLY AS CLOSE AS TWO SIBLINGS COULD POSSIBLY BE .>> Reporter: GLENN'S SISTER, RENITTA STOUT, SAYS BECAUSE OF HER WORK WITH RAPE VICTIMS, SHE KNEW THE HAMMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT, SHE KNEW DETECTIVE SOLAN, AND SHE KNEW HER BROTHER WAS NO RAPIST .>> SO, IT WAS THAT NIGHT THAT WE STARTED FIGHTING FOR HIM .>> Reporter: AND YOU'RE STILL FIGHTING TO CLEAR HIS NAME ?>> YES, AND I WON'T STOP .>> Reporter: ROOSEVELT DOESN'T DENY THAT THOSE WERE LIKELY HIS COVERALLS .>> I... I DON'T THINK HE \ CAN DENY THOSE ARE LIKELY HIS COVERALLS .>> Reporter: GLENN SAYS THERE \ IS AN EXPLANATION. NEARLY TWO HOURS BEFORE THE BRUTAL GANG RAPE, HE WAS AT LURIA BROTHERS WITH COWORKERS DARRYL PINKINS AND BILL DURDEN. IT WAS 11: 00 P. M ., AND THEIR SHIFTS HAD JUST ENDED. THE MEN SAY THAT THEY ALL GOT INTO BILL DURDEN'S CAR WITH A PLAN TO STOP AT THE LOCAL LIQUOR STORE TO CASH THEIR CHECKS, GRAB A BEER AND GO HOME .>> BUT BEFORE WE CAN GET THERE, HIS CAR START HAVING PROBLEMS. AND HE SAID, " IT'S MY OIL. I DON'T HAVE ANY OIL IN THE CAR ." IT WAS RUNNING HOT. SO, WE LEFT THERE, THE THREE OF US WALKING .>> THEY EXIT DURDEN'S CAR AND THEY WALK AWAY. AND THERE'S A STATE POLICE TROOPER. HE SEES THEM WALKING AWAY FROM THAT DISABLED VEHICLE. SO, IT'S UNDISPUTED THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND THEY WALKED AWAY FROM IT ON A FRIGID NIGHT .>> Reporter: THE MEN SAY THEY TOOK ONLY WHAT THEY NEEDED AND WALKED TO A PAYPHONE. ROOSEVELT CALLED A FRIEND WHO PICKED THEM UP AND THEN LET ROOSEVELT USE HER CAR .>> AFTER WE DROPPED HER OFF, WE WENT TO CASH OUR PAYCHECKS. AND THE LADY THERE, SHE WAS VERY NICE. SHE... YOU KNOW, SHE SEES US ALL THE TIME. AND SO, SHE SAID, " YOU GUYS ARE LATE ." I SAID, " YEAH, THE CAR BROKE DOWN .">> Reporter: FROM THERE, THEY BOUGHT TWO QUARTS OF OIL AND HEADED BACK TO BILL DURDEN'S CAR .>> AND THAT'S WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THE WINDOWS HAD BEEN BROKEN OUT .>> Reporter: THE CAR HAD BEEN BROKEN INTO. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS SHATTERED. TWO SHOPPING BAGS AND A DUFFEL BAG, WHICH HAD BEEN IN PLAIN SIGHT, WERE NOW GONE. INSIDE THOSE BAGS: THREE WORKMAN COVERALLS. HE DOES NOT DISPUTE THAT THOSE ARE HIS GREENS. HE SAID, " THOSE ARE MY GREENS. THEY WERE STOLEN FROM THE CAR .">> THAT'S THE STORY HE GAVE .>> Reporter: SOLAN WAS SO SURE HE HAD THE RIGHT GUYS THAT HE URGED THE MEN TO CONFESS. HE TOLD DARRYL PINKINS D. N. A. WAS BETTER THAN A FINGERPRINT .>> " THEN, IF WE DIDN'T DO THE CRIME, D. N. A. WILL SURELY EXONERATE US ." SO, WE TOLD THEM, " WELL, BRING THE TEST ON .">> Reporter: BUT LONG BEFORE THE TEST RESULTS WERE IN, THERE WAS A STUNNING TURN OF EVENTS. FOR NEARLY FIVE MONTHS, THE VICTIM, " JANE ," HAD INSISTED SHE COULD NOT, WOULD NOT I. D. THE SUSPECTS. SHE HAD EVEN REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY PHYSICAL OR PHOTO LINEUPS. THEN, SHE SHOWED UP HERE AT THE COURTHOUSE FOR A HEARING .>> THE PLACE WAS JAMMED, MAUREEN. EVEN PEOPLE STANDING AGAINST THE WALL .>> Reporter: SOLAN SAYS DARRYL PINKINS, OUT ON BAIL AND WEARING STREET CLOTHES, WALKED INTO THE PACKED COURTROOM THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR. THE MOMENT JANE SAW HIM, SHE REPORTEDLY RECOGNIZED DARRYL AS THE RAPIST WHO FIRST APPROACHED HER CAR. SOLAN NOW HAD JANE'S I. D. OF DARRYL PINKINS, THE COVERALLS THAT BELONGED TO ROOSEVELT GLENN AND A HAIR FOUND ON JANE'S CLOTHING. AN EXPERT WAS PREPARED TO TESTIFY THAT IT MATCHED THE HAIR ON GLENN'S HEAD .>> WHEN THEY SAID THEY HAD MY HAIR, I WAS LIKE, " RUN EVERY TEST YOU'VE GOT. IT'S NOT MY HAIR .">> Reporter: THE HAIR HAD NO ROOT, SO, AT THE TIME, THERE WAS NO WAY TO TEST IT FOR D. N. A. BUT THE STATE COULD TEST SEVERAL SEMEN STAINS FOUND ON JANE'S SWEATER AND JACKET FOR D. N. A. THREE MONTHS AFTER JANE IDENTIFIED DARRYL PINKINS, THE RESULTS WERE IN .>> AND IT'S THOSE STAINS THAT DURDEN, PINKINS, GLENN, JACKSON, DANIELS ARE ALL EXCLUDED FROM. THOSE MEN DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THOSE STAINS .>> Reporter: THE TEST RESULTS SHOWED THREE CLEAR D. N. A. PROFILES IN THE MIXTURES-- THE VICTIM AND TWO MEN, NEITHER OF WHICH WERE A MATCH TO ANY OF THE FIVE MEN ARRESTED. THERE \ WAS \ ADDITIONAL MALE D. N. A. IN THE MIXTURE, BUT IT WAS MISSING UNIQUE D. N. A. MARKERS FROM EACH OF THE FIVE MEN. WHICH MEANS, ACCORDING TO D. N. A. EXPERT GREG HAMPIKIAN, THERE IS NO WAY ANY OF THE FIVE MEN ARRESTED CONTRIBUTED TO THE STAINS .>> IT'S LIKE IF THE PHONE NUMBER BEGINS WITH THE NUMBER EIGHT AND YOUR PHONE NUMBER DOES NOT BEGIN WITH THE NUMBER EIGHT, YOU'RE EXCLUDED. THE D. N. A. DID THAT IN GREAT DETAIL, AND EVERYBODY KNEW IT BEFORE TRIAL .>> Reporter: BUT THE STATE DISREGARDED THOSE RESULTS, ARGUING THAT D. N. A. WAS SO NEW, THE TESTS WERE INCONCLUSIVE. PROSECUTORS DID CONCEDE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE AGAINST BARRY JACKSON AND GARY DANIELS AND DROPPED THE CHARGES AGAINST THOSE TWO MEN .>> THEY WHITE THEIR NAMES OUT. AND THEN, THEY RE- FILE, SHOWING THAT DANIELS AND JACKSON HAVE BEEN DISMISSED .>> Reporter: FAR MORE CONFIDENT IN THE CASE AGAINST THE REMAINING THREE SUSPECTS, THE STATE SET ITS SIGHTS ON CONVICTING PINKINS, GLEN AND DURDEN .>> HOW DO YOU TAKE SOMEBODY'S LIFE AWAY AND ACT LIKE IT WAS NOTHING ?��>> Reporter: IT WAS JANUARY 28, 1991, AND THE FIRST TO GO ON TRIAL WAS BILL DURDEN. THE MOST DAMNING

HIS TIES TO PINKINS AND GLENN ON THE NIGHT OF THE CRIME. THE RESULT WAS A HUNG JURY .>> WE NEVER RETRIED HIM .>> Reporter: AND WHY WASN'T HE RETRIED ?>> THE WEAKEST CASE OF THE THREE .>> Reporter: THE NEXT TO GO TO TRIAL WAS DARRYL PINKINS. PINKINS

RAPE, CRIMINAL DEVIATE CONDUCT AND ROBBERY .>> MY KNEES KIND OF LIKE BUCKLED A LITTLE. I MOVED A LITTLE, SWERVED A LITTLE. AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I WAS LIKE, " THIS DON'T MAKE SENSE .">> Reporter: ROOSEVELT GLENN WAS TRIED TWICE; THE FIRST TRIAL ENDED IN A HUNG JURY. A SECOND JURY CONVICTED GLENN OF RAPE .>> I WAS IN SUCH SHOCK THAT I COULDN'T EVEN THINK. AND THEN, I HEARD MY MOTHER AND SISTER SCREAM .>> IT WAS A BAD DAY FOR EVERYBODY .>> Reporter: HOPE DWINDLED IN THIS CASE FOR ABOUT A DECADE. THEN, ALONG CAME PROFESSOR WATSON'S WRONGFUL CONVICTION CLINIC AND HER LAW STUDENTS .>> IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE !>> Reporter: DID YOU WALK IN THINKING, " WELL, THEY'RE CONVICTED. THEY MUST HAVE HAD SOMETHING "?>> THAT'S WHAT WE'D BEEN TAUGHT .>> HAVING GONE THROUGH ALL THE EVIDENCE, THERE'S NOTHING TO ME THAT-- OUTSIDE OF THE COVERALLS-- THAT REALLY INDICATES THAT THEY'RE GUILTY .>> Reporter: BUT THE REAL PROBLEM FOR THE DEFENSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE VICTIM'S I. D. OF DARRYL PINKINS .>> THAT I. D. IS DEEPLY FLAWED. I WOULD SAY THAT I. D. SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROBLEMATIC FROM DAY ONE .>> Reporter: PROBLEMATIC, THEY SAY, BECAUSE IT CONTRADICTS THE VICTIM'S INITIAL STATEMENT GIVEN TO POLICE .>> I THOUGHT SHE SAID THEY WERE YOUNG, PUNK- SOUNDING .>> SHE SAID, " YOUNG BLACK MALES IN THEIR 20s, PUNK TALK .">> RIGHT .>> Reporter: NOT ONE OF THE FIVE MEN FIRST ARRESTED FIT THE DESCRIPTION OF A YOUNG PUNK, ESPECIALLY DARRYL PINKINS, WHO WAS 37 YEARS OLD AND MARRIED WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AT THE TIME. BUT EVEN MORE DISTURBING TO THE YOUNG INVESTIGATORS, THE CRIME SPREE CONTINUED EVEN AFTER THE MEN WERE ARRESTED. IN THE NEXT SEVEN MONTHS, THERE WERE 18 BUMP- AND- ROBS, AND ONE BUMP- AND- RAPE. SO, THEN, HOW COULD IT BE YOU GUYS IF IT WAS STILL HAPPENING ?>> WELL, THE WORD THEY USED WAS " COPYCAT" CRIMES .>> Reporter: ULTIMATELY, IT WAS THE WAY THE PROSECUTION HANDLED THE D. N. A. EVIDENCE THAT DEEPLY TROUBLED PROFESSOR WATSON AND CAUSED HER TO REACH OUT TO D. N. A. EXPERT GREG HAMPIKIAN. HE BELIEVES THE PROSECUTION INTENTIONALLY DOWNPLAYED THE RESULTS OF THE D. N. A. TEST BY USING A SIGNIFICANTLY LESS RELIABLE TEST CALLED SEROLOGY. BASICALLY, THE STATE ARGUED THAT THE MEN COULD NOT BE EXCLUDED FROM THE SEMEN BECAUSE THEIR BLOOD TYPES COULD BE FOUND IN THE STAINS .>> EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THAT STAIN BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM'S A, B OR O BLOOD .>> TO EVEN USE BLOOD TYPING WHEN YOU HAVE D. N. A. IS... IS SO UNETHICAL AS TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE MY BLOOD BOIL .>> Reporter: AND THIS IS WHERE IT GETS EVEN MORE COMPLICATED. AFTER ARGUING THAT THE MEN PROBABLY DID CONTRIBUTE TO THE SEMEN STAINS, THE PROSECUTION THEN CONTRADICTED ITSELF BY SAYING THAT PINKINS AND GLENN MAY NOT HAVE EJACULATED AT ALL. THIS, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL JAILHOUSE INFORMANTS WHO ALLEGEDLY REACHED OUT TO DETECTIVE SOLAN .>> PINKINS, HE CONFIDED IN HIS CELLMATE, AND HE ASKED THE

" IS IT RAPE IF YOU DIDN'T EJACULATE ?" HE ALSO TELLS HIM, " I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE D. N. A. EVIDENCE BECAUSE I DIDN'T EJACULATE .">> Reporter: THAT INFORMANT GOT A PLEA DEAL IN RETURN FOR HIS TESTIMONY. AND SO DID A SNITCH WHO TESTIFIED THAT ROOSEVELT GLENN TOLD HIM HE HAD ONLY KISSED THE VICTIM. BUT REMEMBER, THE VICTIM TOLD POLICE SHE HAD BEEN RAPED BY EACH OF THE FIVE MEN AND THAT ALL FIVE MEN EJACULATED .>> YOU'RE RAPED. YOU'RE BEING HURT. IF YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE ACCURATE ON " DID EVERYONE EJACULATE ," WELL, YOU'RE FOOLING YOURSELF. YOU'RE WRONG .>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU AS AN INVESTIGATOR DECIDE WHICH PARTS OF HER EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY TO USE AND WHICH PARTS TO DISCOUNT ?>> I TAKE IT ALL. I DON'T DISCOUNT IT UNLESS THE EVIDENCE DISCOUNTS IT .>> THERE WAS PART OF ME THAT JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE PURSUING THIS CASE. AND MORE ...>> Reporter: KAREN FREEMAN- WILSON WAS A PROSECUTOR TURNED PUBLIC DEFENDER WHEN SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO REPRESENT ROOSEVELT GLENN IN HIS SECOND TRIAL .>> I TALK ABOUT THIS CASE AS THE CASE THAT HAS HAUNTED ME THROUGHOUT MY CAREER BECAUSE I KNEW HE \ WASN'T \ GUILTY .>> Reporter: TODAY, FREEMAN- WILSON IS THE MAYOR OF GARY, INDIANA .>> I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW DETECTIVE SOLAN, BUT I WAS WILLING TO GIVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. BUT AS THE CASE CONTINUED ON, I JUST THOUGHT THAT HE ORCHESTRATED A RAILROAD .��>> Reporter: IN THE 24 YEARS THAT YOU'VE BEEN IN PRISON, YOU'VE LOST YOUR DAD, BOTH BROTHERS ...>> RIGHT .>> Reporter: ... AND YOU LOST A SISTER .>> MY OLDEST SISTER, YEAH .>> Reporter: BY 2005, DARRYL PINKINS HAD EXHAUSTED HIS APPEALS, EVEN THOUGH NEW AND IMPROVED D. N. A. TESTS CONTINUED TO EXCLUDE HIM AND ROOSEVELT GLENN FROM THE SEMEN STAINS. THE ONLY HOPE LEFT WAS ROOSEVELT GLENN'S APPEAL, FILED IN 2003 BY FRAN WATSON, WHO HAD OFFICIALLY BEGUN WORKING AS THE PRO BONO ATTORNEY FOR BOTH PINKINS AND GLENN. DID IT EVER CROSS YOUR MIND TO MAYBE CUT A DEAL ?>> NO !>> Reporter: HAVE YOU EVER ONCE GIVEN A CONFESSION ?>> NO! I WOULD NEVER CONFESS TO SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO .>> Reporter: KNOWING THAT THE SCIENCE OF D. N. A. HAD WORKED AGAINST THE MEN SO FAR, WATSON TURNED TO A DIFFERENT SCIENCE, ONE THAT ACTUALLY HAD

HAIR ANALYSIS .>> THE F. B. I. CAME OUT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND SAID, " WE'RE SORRY, WE'VE CONVICTED PEOPLE WITH BAD HAIR COMPARISON TESTIMONY ." WE NOW KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T PUT TWO HAIRS UNDER A MICROSCOPE AND FIGURE OUT IF THEY CAME FROM THE SAME PERSON TO A RELIABLE DEGREE OF SCIENTIFIC CERTAINTY .>> Reporter: BUT THAT'S NOT ALL. REMEMBER, THE HAIR USED AGAINST ROOSEVELT GLENN DID NOT HAVE A ROOT, AND IT COULD NOT BE TESTED FOR D. N. A. AT THE TIME. BUT, BY 2003, IT COULD BE TESTED FOR MITOCHONDRIAL D. N. A ., THE GENES YOU GET FROM YOUR MOTHER. THAT TEST WOULD SHOW WHETHER OR NOT THE HAIR ACTUALLY CAME FROM ROOSEVELT GLENN. IN A TWIST OF FATE, THOUGH, WHEN FRAN WATSON GOT A COURT ORDER TO TEST THAT HAIR, SHE WAS GIVEN A SECOND HAIR, AS WELL. AND THAT SECOND HAIR, IT DID HAVE A ROOT .>> THEY NEVER TESTED THAT HAIR. IT HAD A ROOT, ALWAYS. SO, WE TEST THAT HAIR .>> Reporter: PROFESSOR WATSON TESTED BOTH HAIRS. AS IT TURNS OUT, NEITHER BELONGED TO ROOSEVELT GLENN, DARRYL PINKINS OR BILL DURDEN. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, SAYS D. N. A. EXPERT GREG HAMPIKIAN, THE HAIR WITH THE ROOT PROVIDED A NEW, PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN THIRD D. N. A. PROFILE .>> WE THOUGHT THAT WAS ENOUGH BECAUSE HAIR EVIDENCE JUST LIKE THAT HAS OVERTURNED CASES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THE F. B. I. IS, YOU KNOW, APOLOGIZING FOR THE WAY THEY'VE TAUGHT PEOPLE TO INTERPRET HAIR. AND D. N. A ., EVERYONE RECOGNIZES, CORRECTS THOSE MISTAKES .>> Reporter: IN 2008, A JUDGE RULED THAT THE NEW HAIR EVIDENCE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO GRANT ROOSEVELT GLENN A NEW TRIAL, CITING THE TESTIMONY OF THE SNITCH AND THE WITNESS I. D. OF DARRYL PINKINS AS PROOF OF ROOSEVELT'S GUILT. BUT A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, AFTER SERVING NEARLY 17 YEARS AS A MODEL PRISONER, ROOSEVELT GLENN WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON ANYWAY, PAROLED UNDER INDIANA LAW FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR. THEY ALSO FORCED YOU TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER ?>> RIGHT. DID YOU JUST SEE ME FLINCH ?>> Reporter: YEAH .>> (\ LAUGHS \) YEAH. THAT'S... THAT'S... IT HURTS .>> Reporter: IT ALSO HURT HIS DAUGHTERS, WHO LOST THEIR FATHER FOR NEARLY 17 YEARS .>> I MEAN, I WISH HE COULD'VE BEEN THERE TO HELP ME PICK OUT A PROM DRESS OR SAY, " NO, NOT ," TO THAT BOYFRIEND .>> EVEN NOW, YOU KNOW, I STRUGGLE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP. DAD'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONE THAT TEACHES YOU, YOU KNOW, " THIS IS WHAT YOU DESERVE. THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD BE TREATED ." AND I'VE NEVER... I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THAT .>> MY CHILDREN NOW ARE 31, 30 AND 25, AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW EACH OTHER. AND WE'RE VERY RESPECTFUL AND WE LOVE EACH OTHER, BUT, DEEP DOWN INSIDE, WE DON'T... WE DON'T REALLY KNOW EACH OTHER .>> EVERY MAN NEEDS A FATHER IN THEIR LIFE .>> Reporter: DAMEON PINKINS WAS JUST 15 YEARS OLD WHEN HE LOST HIS FATHER .>> I TOLD HIM HE'S THE STRONGEST MAN THAT I KNOW. AND I TOLD HIM BEFORE THAT I NEEDED HIM JUST AS MUCH AS HE NEED ME BECAUSE HE WAS ACTUALLY HELPING ME .(\ CRYING \) I'M SORRY .>> THE LOVE I WANTED TO EXPRESS TO MY CHILDREN HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME FORTH YET .>> YES, DARRYL, YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. THAT'S RIGHT .>> Reporter: 84- YEAR- OLD MILDRED PINKINS HAS SPENT A QUARTER CENTURY GETTING DESPERATE LETTERS FROM PRISON ." HEY, MOMS ," WROTE DARRYL, " IT'S ANOTHER LONELY NIGHT .">> SHE'D LEAVE MESSAGES SOMETIMES, AND THEY WERE HAUNTING AND WOULD JUST SAY, " JUST CHECKING TO SEE IF YOU'RE WORKING ON DARRYL'S CASE ." AND A LOT OF THE TIMES, THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO ON DARRYL'S CASE. BUT I... I'D LOOK AT IT, AND I'D THINK ABOUT IT, AND I'D GO TO MEETINGS AND I'D ASK PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY WOULD APPROACH THIS. AND EVENTUALLY, THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE ANSWER .>> Reporter: IT WAS AT ONE OF THOSE SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS WHERE GREG HAMPIKIAN MET DR. MARK PERLIN .>> A 1. 5 .>> Reporter: PERLIN HAD RECENTLY DEVELOPED A NEW D. N. A. TECHNOLOGY HE CALLS TRUE ALLELE. IT'S A COMPUTER PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ANALYZE D. N. A. MIXTURES. THIS SOFTWARE ALLOWS PERLIN TO SEE PROFILES BELONGING TO MINOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE D. N. A. IN A WAY THAT LAB TECHNICIANS JUST CAN'T .>> TRUE ALLELE, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS USED IN 9 / 11 BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY HUMAN REMAINS MINGLED .>> TRUE ALLELE WAS BEING USED BY CRIME LABS .>> Reporter: FOR PROSECUTION ?>> WELL, PRESUMABLY FOR JUSTICE .>> Reporter: PERLIN AGREED TO RUN THE TEST IN THIS CASE FOR FREE, A PROCESS THAT BEGAN BACK IN OCTOBER, 2013 .>> THE LAST 25 YEARS HAS BEEN VERY EXHAUSTING .>> BUT WE HAVEN'T GIVEN UP HOPE .>> WE'RE NOT... WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP HOPE .>> NOPE .��>> Reporter: IN EARLY AUGUST 2014, FRAN WATSON GOT A CALL FROM MARK PERLIN. THE RESULTS OF THE TRUE ALLELE D. N. A. TESTS WERE IN, AND THE NEWS WAS BIG. ALONG WITH THE ORIGINAL TWO D. N. A. PROFILES, TRUE ALLELE WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY TWO ADDITIONAL D. N. A. PROFILES, AND NEITHER OF THEM MATCHED DARRYL PINKINS OR ROOSEVELT GLENN. HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT THE TRUE ALLELE TEST RESULTS ARE ACCURATE AND SHOW THAT THESE TWO MEN, ROOSEVELT AND DARRYL, WERE NOT THERE, THEY DID NOT RAPE THIS WOMAN ?>> INCREDIBLY CONFIDENT. THE MATCH STATISTICS HERE WERE VERY STRONG, AND THEY WERE EXCLUSIONARY .>> Reporter: AND REMEMBER THE D. N. A. PROFILE FROM THE HAIR WITH THE ROOT? IT DIDN'T MATCH ANY OF THE FOUR PROFILES IN THE SEMEN, EITHER. THAT MEANT THERE WERE NOW FIVE KNOWN RAPISTS .>> HERE ARE FIVE SEPARATE GENOTYPES, FIVE BAD GUYS. NONE OF THEM ARE DURDEN, PINKINS AND GLENN .>> Reporter: SEVEN MONTHS LATER, A HEARING WAS SET FOR MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016. BUT ON THE THURSDAY BEFORE THE HEARING, PROFESSOR WATSON WAS INFORMED THERE WOULD BE NO HEARING. AFTER TWO DECADES OF DEFENDING THE CONVICTIONS IN THIS CASE, THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE CONCEDED AND AGREED TO OVERTURN DARRYL PINKINS' CONVICTION. THE VERY NEXT DAY, DARRYL WAS SET TO BE RELEASED, AN INNOCENT MAN WITH NO RECORD .>> OH! ARE YOU SERIOUS? OH, DARRYL'S GETTING OUT TOMORROW !>> ARE YOU SERIOUS ?>> Reporter: AFTER WORKING ON THIS CASE FOR THREE YEARS, WE CALLED DARRYL'S FAMILY AND ROOSEVELT GLENN WITH LIFE- CHANGING NEWS .>> (\ CRYING \)>> Reporter: WE WERE ALSO THERE THE NEXT DAY WHEN DARRYL, STILL HANDCUFFED, FINALLY HEARD THE NEWS HE'D BEEN WAITING FOR, FOR NEARLY 25 YEARS. 50 FEET ACROSS FROM THIS BUILDING IS YOUR MOM, SOME OF YOUR KIDS, SISTERS, NEPHEWS, AND THEY ARE SO ANXIOUS TO SEE YOU .>> I FEEL LIKE I'M ABOUT TO EXPLODE, BUT I'M SO THANKFUL .>> Reporter: WE ALL WAITED THAT ENTIRE DAY FOR DARRYL TO BE RELEASED, ALL ON THE EDGE. BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED .>> OKAY, GUYS, WE DON'T HAVE GOOD NEWS .>> Reporter: APPARENTLY, THE PAPERWORK HAD NOT BEEN SIGNED IN TIME. SO, A MAN, NOW INNOCENT IN THE EYES OF THE LAW, WOULD REMAIN LOCKED UP FOR THE WEEKEND .>> THIS IS \ NOT \ WHAT YOU DO TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE PUT UP WITH 25 YEARS OF ABSOLUTE INJUSTICE AND THEY HAVE A COURT ORDER IN THEIR HANDS TO SAY " FREE THIS MAN .">> THE PROCESS HAS TO START BACK UP AT 8: 00 A. M. HERE, WHICH IS 9: 00 A. M. THERE, MONDAY MORNING, WHEN THEY START BUSINESS .>> Reporter: THAT MONDAY, THERE WERE EVEN MORE PEOPLE THERE TO SEE DARRYL PINKINS RELEASED. AND THANKS TO JAIL ADMINISTRATOR MARK PUREVICH, " 48 HOURS" GOT AN EXTRAORDINARY LOOK AT DARRYL'S REENTRY INTO HIS WORLD .>> GOOD ?>> MM- HMM, I'M GOOD .>> OKAY, TAKE YOUR STUFF BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY ARMS TO HOLD ANYTHING .>> Reporter: HAD YOU SEEN HIM DRESSED IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES BEFORE ?>> NO, NEVER. NEVER .>> Reporter: AND HE HAD A DIFFERENT STANCE ?>> YEAH. YOU ALREADY SAW THE DIFFERENT PERSON. YOU GOT TO SEE DARRYL BE A MAN AGAIN, YOU KNOW, BE A PROUD MAN, AND LEAVE FEELING EXONERATED, KNOWING THAT THE WORLD WOULD KNOW HE DIDN'T DO IT .>> HERE WE GO !(\ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE \) THIS IS YOUR MOMENT, DARRYL !(\ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE \)>> OH, MY GOD !>> Reporter: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES, DARRYL PINKINS-- NOW 64 YEARS OLD-- WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO HOLD HIS MOTHER AND HIS CHILDREN .(\ LAUGHTER \) BUT DARRYL WASN'T ALONE. FOR HIM, IT WAS ALSO ABOUT HIS PARTNER IN INNOCENCE .(\ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE \) IS THIS THE FIRST WRONGFULLY CONVICTED CASE THAT TRUE ALLELE HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERTURNING THE CONVICTION ?>> YES .>> Reporter: PRECEDENT- SETTING ?>> CLEARLY .(\ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE \) AND HOPEFULLY OPEN UP THE EYES OF OTHER LAWYERS THAT IN THESE MIXTURE CASES, IT'S NOW TIME TO GO BACK AND TRY AGAIN .>> FEELS LIKE THIS DAY WAS... IT WAS MEANT TO BE. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A NEW BEGINNING, YOU KNOW .>> AMEN .(\ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE \)>> Reporter: SHORTLY AFTER THESE MEN WERE CONVICTED, LAKE COUNTY PROSECUTOR BERNARD CARTER TOOK OFFICE AND HAS VEHEMENTLY FOUGHT EVERY APPEAL IN THIS CASE. ONE MONTH AFTER DARRYL'S RELEASE, CARTER FINALLY AGREED TO AN INTERVIEW. HAS THIS OFFICE... HAVE YOU GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT THE CASE ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO SAY, " DID WE MISS SOMETHING HERE ?">> YEAH, WE HAVE DONE THAT. AND... AND NOT REALLY. ONLY THING WE FEEL THAT WE GOT CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE ONCE THAT LAST D. N. A. PROFILE WAS, WE FELT ABSOLUTELY THAT SOMETHING HAS TO DONE .>> Reporter: BUT ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THEN ...>> BUT ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL TODAY, IT WAS AN ARGUABLE CASE. YES, IT WAS .>> Reporter: WITH ONE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT EXCEPTION .>> WELL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT IDENTIFICATION, THAT IDENTIFICATION WAS, IN MY OPINION, VERY FLAWED .>> Reporter: AFTER PERSONALLY TAKING THE TIME TO REVIEW THE ENTIRE CASE FILE, CARTER, WHO SHOOK DARRYL'S HAND THE DAY HE WAS RELEASED, SAYS HE IS NOW VERY BOTHERED BY THE VICTIM IDENTIFICATION, WHICH KEPT DARRYL BEHIND BARS FOR NEARLY A QUARTER CENTURY. IF THAT HADN'T HAPPENED, THAT I. D ., WOULD DARRYL PINKINS HAVE SPENT 24 AND A HALF YEARS IN PRISON ?>> I DON'T THINK HE WOULD HAVE. I DON'T THINK HE WOULD HAVE. ABSOLUTELY NOT .>> Reporter: AND IF DARRYL PINKINS, WHO WAS TRIED BEFORE GLENN, HAD NOT BEEN CONVICTED, WOULD ROOSEVELT GLENN HAD GONE ?>> NO. IT'D FAIL, TOO, PROBABLY .>> Reporter: DETECTIVE MIKE SOLAN STRONGLY DISAGREES AND REMAINS CONVINCED THAT DARRYL PINKINS IS GUILTY. THE PROSECUTOR SAID THE WORDS, " HE DIDN'T DO IT .">> YEAH .>> Reporter: RIGHT. HE DIDN'T DO IT .>> DOES THAT MAKE HIM RIGHT ?>> Reporter: DOES IT MAKE YOU RIGHT TO SAY THAT HE DID ?>> NO. BUT WE GOT PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE TO SAY HE'S WRONG .>> Reporter: NOT THE MAYOR OF GARY, INDIANA, KAREN FREEMAN- WILSON, WHO GAVE ROOSEVELT GLENN A JOB WHEN HE WAS PAROLED. IS IT A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK YOU IF YOU THINK RACE PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS CASE ?>> I CERTAINLY THINK IT DID IN THE INVESTIGATION AND THE WAY THAT DETECTIVE SOLAN VIEWED THESE MEN, THE FACT THAT THERE WERE BLACK MEN CHARGED WITH RAPING A WHITE WOMAN .>> ASK THEM TO PRODUCE ANY EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT I WAS RACIST ON THIS. AND I NEVER USED THE WORD " NIGGER" TO THEM. I NEVER INSULTED THEM USING THAT WORD. HAVE I EVER USED IT IN MY LIFE? EARLIER IN LIFE, I HAVE. I HAVEN'T USED THAT WORD IN 20 YEARS .>> YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ALL MEAN TO ME, YOU KNOW, AND THAT WE DID THIS TOGETHER. WE DID THIS TOGETHER. THAT'S HOW IT WORKS .>> THANK GOD FOR FRAN. SHE'S AN ANGEL SENT FROM ABOVE .>> TO ME, SHE'S A LIFESAVER. SHE IS .>> THIS CASE, OVERALL, COULD'VE BEEN PREVENTED FROM DAY ONE. AND IT'S SAD TO SAY THAT THOSE THAT ARE IN CHARGE, IN POWER, NEED TO GET BACK TO ETHICS, GOOD ETHICS .>> Reporter: IN EARLY 2017, ROOSEVELT GLENN'S CONVICTION WAS FINALLY OVERTURNED .>> AND NOW I CAN SHOUT, I CAN SCREAM, I CAN DANCE IF I WANT TO! AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU !��>> Reporter: GLENN'S NAME HAS NOW BEEN EXPUNGED FROM THE FEDERAL SEX OFFENDER'S REGISTRY .>> CONGRATULATIONS .>> Reporter: ON APRIL 25, 2017, EXACTLY ONE YEAR AFTER BEING FREED FROM PRISON, WE CHECKED IN ON DARRYL, WHO IS LIVING ON HIS OWN AND STILL TRYING TO ADJUST TO LIFE IN THE 21st CENTURY .>> IT'S BEEN, LIKE, EYE- OPENING. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE I'M INTO A NEW REALM, A NEW WORLD, REALLY. EXPERIENCES FROM CELL PHONE TECHNOLOGY TO DEALING WITH NEW PEOPLE .>> Reporter: AFTER MONTHS OF HUNTING FOR A JOB, IT WAS MAYOR KAREN FREEMAN- WILSON WHO ONCE AGAIN CAME TO THE RESCUE, HIRING DARRYL AS A MAINTENANCE WORKER FOR THE CITY OF GARY .>> IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A MAN. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NICE TO TAKE SOMEBODY OUT TO DINNER AND YOU PAY, NOT HER. I'M OLD SCHOOL .>> Reporter: IRONICALLY, ROOSEVELT AND DARRYL NOW WORK TOGETHER AGAIN .��>>\ A BRUTAL MURDER .\ POLICE HAVE D. N. A. BUT CAN'T \ FIND THE KILLER .\ COPS GET A WARRANT FOR \ INFORMATION FROM ANCESTRY. COM ,\ AND SUDDENLY THIS YOUNG \ FILMMAKER BECAME A SUSPECT .>> WE THINK THAT YOU, YOU'RE INVOLVED IN THIS MURDER CASE .>>\ HOW CAN \ THAT \ HAPPEN ?\ SATURDAY.