LEAWOOD, Kan. — A group of exonerated people are working to get justice for others who were wrongfully convicted.
"I was arrested in 1984 and sent to prison in 1984-85, is when I went in to the Missouri state penitentiary in Jefferson City, Missouri," Darryl Burton said.
Pastor Darryl Burton was convicted of capital murder in St. Louis and sentenced to life without parole, plus 25 years. Burton said there were two eye-witnesses in his case who wrongfully identified him. Twenty-four years later, it was discovered that evidence in his case was withheld, that would have set him free.
In 2008, the charges were dropped and Burton walked out of prison.
"No one was here for me when I came home, I left St. Louis when they released me and I came to Kansas City the next day with what I had on," Burton recalled.
His experiences led him to help others. Burton co-founded the Miracle of Innocence nonprofit organization. His mission is to help others the way he once needed help.
"To have somewhere where they can come to get some support and some help, whether it's housing, transportation, communication, identification, all the things that you need to just to make it in society," Burton explained.
Saturday, a gala fundraiser was held for Miracle of Innocence. Dozens of people showed their support, including Wyandotte County District Attorney, Mark Dupree.
"When we those situations and we see them, it just further says to us, make sure that what you're doing is focusing in on justice and not chasing a conviction alone," Dupree said.
The nonprofit hopes to raise funds to continue their work, integrating wrongfully convicted people back into society.
"If they are not given an opportunity to do something that's right and to gain the skills and the assistance that are needed, than you fall back into possible habits that we as a criminal justice system really encourage folks to stay away from," Dupree explained.
Miracle of Innocence said 2.3 million people are incarcerated in the United States. They believe at least one percent of them are wrongfully convicted.
