Robert DuBoise has served 37 years in prison in Florida for a rape and murder he did not commit. Now, he is expected to receive $14 million from the city of Tampa as compensation for the lost years, reports the Associated Press.
DuBoise, who was 18 years old when the crime occurred, was initially sentenced to death for the murder of 19-year-old Barbara Grams. Although the sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment, it was in 2018 when, with the help of an innocence organization, prosecutors agreed to review his case, according to online newspaper Reporteri.net.
DNA tests, which were not possible in the early ’80s, raised doubts about two other suspects, helping DuBoise to be released from prison in 2020.
Not going far, DuBoise sued the city of Tampa, the police officers who investigated the case, and the forensic dentist who testified that his teeth matched the bite marks on the victim.
The Tampa City Council on Thursday approved and officially offered $14 million to DuBoise, now 59 years old.
Council members have said that the money is the least the city can offer him.
