A North Carolina man who spent 44 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit was freed on Thursday.

Mr Ronnie Long, 64, was a 20-year-old Black man living in Concord when he was accused of raping a white woman, Sarah Judson Bost, at knifepoint in her home on the evening of the 25 April 1976.

Long was sentenced to 80 years in prison for the first-degree rape of Sarah Bost and first-degree burglary by an all-white jury in the 70s.

Despite decades of appeals to overturn the conviction, and though DNA evidence obtained throughout the years pointed to his innocence, he remained in jail.

Photo of Mr Ronnie Long, an inmate in 2017 fighting for his freedom.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8674499/Black-man-spent-44-years-prison-rape-says-didnt-commit-freed.html?ito=social-facebook

Long (pictured in his mugshot photo) was a 20-year-old Black man living in Concord when he was accused of raping white woman Sarah Judson Bost, now 54, at knifepoint in her home in April 1976.

The DNA evidence in question was that hair samples and clothing fibers didn't match those of Long's.

According to news reports, the evidence was not shared with the defense at the time of the trial.

In 2015, it was revealed that 43 fingerprints taken from the scene 'excluded' the prisoner as the source of the prints.

A request for a new trial was still rejected by the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals the same year.

Long was in court for a trespassing case and Sarah Bost, the victim, said she recognized his voice


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8674499/Black-man-spent-44-years-prison-rape-says-didnt-commit-freed.html?ito=social-facebook

Long was put in a photo lineup as the only man wearing a leather jacket, which was allegedly what was worn on the night of the attack, according to court records.

At the time, detectives said they thought the suspected rapist might have been among defendants in court on other charges the same day.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8674499/Black-man-spent-44-years-prison-rape-says-didnt-commit-freed.html?ito=social-facebook

Long had an alibi for the time of the assault.

His mother, who he lived with at the time, and the mother of his child said he was on a group phone call with them.

He was getting ready to attend a party in Charlotte at the time of the assault, they said.

The 4th Circuit opinion, led by Judge Stephanie D. Thacker, cited 'a troubling and striking pattern of deliberate police suppression of material evidence.'

Mr Ronnie Long walks out of the prison 44years later.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8674499/Black-man-spent-44-years-prison-rape-says-didnt-commit-freed.html?ito=social-facebook

He was sentenced to death for a crime he didn't commit.

He spent 6years on death row.

He was saved by a young lawyer.

True life story.

JUST MERCY, 2019.

Must watch, only for the strong heart.

It will shake you to your soul.

Subhanalah, 44 good years for crime he didn't commit. This is racism against the man.

May God Almighty no let us see akoba, adaba, Amin.

The man should jejely sue them for 100 Billion dollar.

Freedom at last.


After 44 years!

I knew he would be black even before opening this thread. Many innocent blacks are wasting in US jails

So all it takes to go to jail in America is to black and be accused of rape even if you are innocent.

This life.

I no say na black man e go be before opening the news post. I remember Henry McCollum and Leon Brown his brother who spent over 30 years on death Row in same NC prison for a similar offence they didn't commit until DNA evidence reversed the sentence. They just wasted their lives for nothing. when driven home by their aged dad, he asked them to use their seat belt but they said they didn't know how to use a seat belt. They found it strange cos it was never introduced in the automobile industry before they left for prison.The eldest was less than 20 years old when arrested and were both in their 50s when released in 2014. Even after their release, the then white judge was still alive. He said he showed no remorse for what he did. So much injustice dey yankee. May we not fall in wrong hands.

Honestly speaking, govt should compensate those who were wrongly accused. Imagine spending 44 years for something you didn't know about. 44 years of his life wasted. May we not be wrongly accused of evil. This man story reminds me of the movie Just Mercy.

Blessed are those who are wrongly accused and persecuted, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.



No more better truth than this.

This is so sad and heartbreaking. Lalasticlala

Akóbà ádaba, Olohun ma je ka ri o.

Iru akoba wo leleyi bayi?

Was he compensated tho'

look how they just wasted 64 yrs of this man.... things happen sha

The guy looks like a fine version of DAVIDO

Oluwa ooo.

May we not be a victim of circumstance and suffer for what we do not know about. Amen

This is really"LONG"

Kolossus20:
Honestly speaking, govt should compensate those who were wrongly accused. Imagine spending 44 years for something you didn't know about. 44 years of his life wasted. May we not be wrongly accused of evil. This man story reminds me of the movie Just Mercy.

44 years of his life wasted is an understatement. His entire life was wasted. I really pity the man. His mates are already grandpas. There're so much injustices in America in those days against blacks. Many were not so lucky as they were eventually hanged after spending decades on death row for an offence they knew nothing about. It's even getting better now as more people can now speak out against such vices.

He needs to be compensated..Gosh 44yrs no beans

dingbang:
Blessed are those who are wrongly accused and persecuted, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.



No more better truth than this.

Please stop this, it's annoying!

He should be compensated with $1b, anything short of that is unacceptable.

Well, at least he’ll get money for wrong conviction....44 years x $50,000

I feel for the man already.. False accusation is not a good thing oo.. after 44 years ..

May we not be falsely accused of what we don't even know about!! I know what am saying because am a living witness ..

Please, Biko my signature is saying something..

44 years out of a man's life, what is left

My God keep him healthy and healthy to live long ND enjoy the freedom he missed.

Explorers, is he ever married?

Flexherbal:
44 years out of a man's life, what is left

God's Grace and Infinite Love left

44years?!

SammySteve15:

God's Grace and Infinite Love left

Indeed, those are the only things that can keep him going.