Convicted Killer Won’t Face Retrial After 50 Years Behind Bars
After nearly half a century in prison, Glynn Ray Simmons, a 70-year-old convicted killer, won’t have to face a retrial, according to Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna. This decision comes after a judge ordered a new trial earlier this year, leading to Simmons’ release.
No Physical Evidence and Unavailable Detectives
In a statement issued on Monday, District Attorney Vicki Behenna stated that the case against Simmons lacked physical evidence. She also pointed out that the detectives who had initially investigated the 1974 murder of Carolyn Sue Rogers and the surviving victims are no longer available or have passed away.
Murder Conviction and a Liquor Store Robbery
Simmons had been convicted of murdering Carolyn Sue Rogers during a liquor store robbery in Edmond, a suburb of Oklahoma City. Throughout the years, he consistently maintained that he was not in Oklahoma at the time but rather in his home state of Louisiana.
A Release After New Evidence Emerged
In July, Glynn Ray Simmons was released from prison when a district court judge voided his conviction and sentence. The judge cited prosecutorial failure to disclose crucial evidence, including a police report suggesting that an eyewitness might have identified different suspects in the case.
Life Sentences and a Co-Defendant’s Parole
Originally, both Simmons and his co-defendant, Don Roberts, were sentenced to death for the murder. However, following U.S. Supreme Court rulings related to capital punishment, their sentences were reduced to life in prison in 1977. Don Roberts was later released on parole in 2008.
In summary, Glynn Ray Simmons, who spent almost five decades behind bars for a murder he consistently denied committing, will not face a retrial due to the absence of physical evidence and unavailable detectives. His release earlier this year followed the emergence of new evidence that raised doubts about his conviction.