Thomas Cress

Wrongfully convicted: June 5, 1985
Released through clemency: December 28, 2010
Calhoun County

Tom Cress, a man of diminished mental capacity, was wrongfully convicted of a rape and murder that occurred in 1983 in Battle Creek, MI. 

His case was central to the founding of the Michigan Innocence Clinic: Clinic founders David Moran and Bridget McCormack worked on the case separately over the years, and it demonstrated to them the need for a non-DNA Innocence Project. 

Tom was released from prison when Gov. Granholm commuted his sentence in December of 2010.

More details available at:

• Detroit Free Press: “Evidence Of Innocence: Two Ex-Cops Say Wrong Man Is Jailed For Murder. Admitted Serial Killer Claims He Did It. Proof Of The Truth Was Destroyed.”
• MLive: “Gov. Granholm grants release of man convicted in teen’s 1983 slaying”
• Wood TV 8: “Thomas Cress: ‘I got chance at freedom’ ”