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tony apanovitch
A man sentenced to death, two times, for a crime he did not commit.
DNA evidence excluded Tony from the rape underlying his 1984 Cleveland murder and rape convictions. His convictions and death sentence were overturned, and after 32 years on death row, he was released from prison. Two and a half years later, the Ohio Supreme Court reversed that victory on jurisdictional grounds. He is now challenging that decision in federal court while also seeking clemency from the Ohio governor.
Tony was doomed from the start...
... denied a fair trial because the police and prosecutors hid and lied about three pieces of so-called evidence that were as false as they were damaging to Tony's defense. By lying to the jury, hiding evidence, and twisting the facts, the state created a false narrative that made Tony look guilty. Although the 'evidence' has effectively been revealed as bogus and erased from record, the truth came to light only years later, after it had already unduly influenced the unsuspecting jury to convict Tony.
After 18 months of freedom with his family, a legal technicality regarding the way that the DNA evidence that freed him was processed resulted in his exoneration being overturned. Tony was then stolen from his family when the U.S. Marshall's came to his house and took him back to death row, where he tragically stands today.
About Tony
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WRONGFUL CONVICTION w/ JASON FLOM episode #187
On August 23rd, 1984, Mary Anne Flynn was beaten and strangled to death in her bedroom, and investigators collected semen from her body. DNA testing set the man who painted her house free, yet somehow he’s still on death row.
ListenOne Minute Remaining - Stories from the inmates
On Aug. 23, 1984, Mary Flynn had been visiting her brother Martin Flynn and his wife, Kate, looking for houses for sale in their neighborhood. That night, around 10 p.m., a neighbor saw Flynn walking from her Toyota Tercel to the back door of her home after her visit to her brother and his wife.
ListenHell Has An Exit Podcast
On this episode you will hear from Anthony’s Attorney - Dale Baich, Ohio State Representative - Jean Schmidt, Director of Communications for Ohioans to Stop Executions - Allison Cohen, and Anthony Apanovitch himself.
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PUBLIC SUPPORT
Kim Kardashian spoke out for Tony.
Anthony Apanovitch is 71 years old and has spent 37 years on death row in Ohio, even though DNA evidence excludes him as the perpetrator.
He was convicted in 1984 with no physical evidence linking him to the crime. 32 years later, DNA testing proved with scientific certainty that he was not the perpetrator. A trial court released him.
Then in 2018, the Ohio Supreme Court sent him back to death row not because of any new evidence of guilt, but because of a procedural technicality. They said that he didn't request DNA testing early enough.
Let that sink in. He was freed by science and returned to death row by paperwork. No jury has ever heard this case with the DNA evidence included. That is not justice.
Please call Ohio Governor Mike DeWine at (614) 466-3555 and demand he act before it is too late.
He was convicted in 1984 with no physical evidence linking him to the crime. 32 years later, DNA testing proved with scientific certainty that he was not the perpetrator. A trial court released him.
Then in 2018, the Ohio Supreme Court sent him back to death row not because of any new evidence of guilt, but because of a procedural technicality. They said that he didn't request DNA testing early enough.
Let that sink in. He was freed by science and returned to death row by paperwork. No jury has ever heard this case with the DNA evidence included. That is not justice.
Please call Ohio Governor Mike DeWine at (614) 466-3555 and demand he act before it is too late.
how can you help?
By taking a few seconds out of your day, signing our petition can go a long way.
Georgetown Prisons and Justice Initiative
After 32 years on death row, Tony Apanovitch was finally exonerated and freed based on DNA evidence. But just when he thought the injustice of his wrongful conviction was behind him, his new life was snatched away and he was sent back to prison on a legal technicality. Now, Tony is on death row for a second time for a crime he didn't commit and once again fighting to reunite with his wife and family.
Write to the Ohio Parole Board here.
Help Us Help Tony!
