Life Behind Bars to Freedom: Ricky Dority’s Story
Ricky Dority’s life has taken a remarkable turn. Not too long ago, he was serving a life sentence in Oklahoma’s Joseph Harp Correctional Center, wrongly accused of a murder he didn’t commit. Today, he enjoys his days playing with his grandchildren and tending to chickens in the peaceful surroundings of his son’s home. What brought about this remarkable transformation? Let’s dive into the story.
Dority’s life took a sharp U-turn when he was sentenced to life in prison for a 1997 cold-case murder. He felt trapped with no hope of release until he decided to use the pandemic relief funds he received to hire a relentless private investigator.
This investigator, along with the Oklahoma Innocence Project at Oklahoma City University, uncovered inconsistencies in the state’s case against Dority. As a result, his conviction was overturned by a Sequoyah County judge in June.
Now, at 65 years old, Dority enjoys a 5-acre property in a serene neighborhood near the Arkansas River Valley. He savors every moment, realizing the preciousness of freedom after two decades behind bars. “If you’re gone for a lot of years, you don’t take it for granted anymore,” he wisely reflects.
The Bigger Picture: Wrongful Convictions
Ricky Dority’s story is not an isolated incident. Since 1989, nearly 3,400 people across the United States, mostly convicted of murder, have been exonerated. Oklahoma alone has witnessed more than 43 such cases, with three new exonerations this year. These cases shed light on a deep-rooted issue within the judicial system.
Many old convictions have arisen due to overworked defense attorneys, flawed forensic work, overeager prosecutors, and outdated investigative methods. The problem becomes even more critical in a state like Oklahoma, known for sending individuals to death row. Eleven inmates have been exonerated from death row since 1981, prompting discussions about a potential death penalty moratorium by a Republican-led legislative panel.
The Causes of Wrongful Convictions
Wrongful convictions often occur due to eyewitness misidentification, misapplication of forensic science, false confessions, coerced pleas, and official misconduct, often by police or prosecutors. In Dority’s case, he faced accusations driven by an overzealous sheriff and prosecutor eager to solve a 1997 murder.
Despite his claims of innocence and evidence proving his arrest on the day of the crime, he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Jurors heard a coerced confession from another man and testimony from a questionable police informant.
The Path to Exoneration
After spending years in prison, Dority decided to use his federal COVID-19 relief funds to hire a private investigator, Bobby Staton. Staton soon realized the case was riddled with inconsistencies and enlisted the help of the Oklahoma Innocence Project. The project assigned a law student, Abby Brawner, to assist in the investigation.
Their efforts paid off when they convinced the man who had confessed to the murder, Rex Robbins, to recant his statement. They also discovered that the informant did not live where he claimed, which further unraveled the case. As a result, the judge dismissed Dority’s case.
However, the original attorneys’ failure to uncover the informant’s false testimony led the judge to give prosecutors 90 days to decide whether to retry Dority. While the three months have been extended, Dority remains confident in his innocence and unconcerned about further forensic testing.
A Glimpse of Hope
While Sequoyah County District Attorney Jack Thorp and former Sheriff Ron Lockhart remain silent, Assistant District Attorney James Dunn expressed agreement with the judge’s decision to dismiss the case. He is committed to ensuring innocent people are not wrongfully imprisoned.
Ricky Dority’s newfound freedom is a testament to the importance of perseverance and the dedication of organizations like the Oklahoma Innocence Project. He’s learning to navigate a world that has changed significantly since he was incarcerated, all the while recognizing that there are likely more innocent individuals in prison who need help securing their freedom.
“If they hadn’t gotten me out, I’d have been in there for the rest of my life,” Dority says, emphasizing the urgency of addressing wrongful convictions in Oklahoma and beyond.