In 1993, 29-year-old Herman Williams, a decorated Navy veteran who served two tours in the Gulf War, was convicted by a Lake County jury of killing his ex-wife despite maintaining his innocence. Nearly three decades later, Williams, of Gurnee, was exonerated and released from prison. On Monday, he was awarded a $13 million settlement through a civil federal lawsuit he brought two years ago.<\/p>\n
According to his attorneys, Williams\u2019 conviction was the result of a \u201cfabricated confession, manufactured and concealed evidence, and false testimony by law enforcement, public servants who had abandoned their professional and ethical obligations in order to close the case and advance their careers.\u201d In 1993, Herman and Penny shared two young children, a 6-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter. The couple had divorced with Herman Williams having since remarried but \u201cmaintained a strong, platonic relationship with Penny and were committed to the well-being of their children,\u201d according to a statement from his attorneys.<\/p>\n
At the time, Williams was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base in Lake County. According to Williams\u2019 attorney, the state\u2019s theory at trial was that Herman murdered Penny on the evening of Sept. 22, 1993, but witnesses refuted this. The next morning, Williams left their apartment to take his children to school and reported for work at the naval base. Once he returned, Penny Williams was gone. He contacted Gurnee police that night to report her missing but was told more time needed to pass before he could do that. Two days later, Penny Williams\u2019 purse was found in a trash can in nearby Park City. The Great Lakes Major Crimes Task Force initiated an investigation. On Sept. 26, 1993, Penny Williams\u2019 body was found in a shallow pond near Midlane Country Club in Waukegan.<\/p>\n
Herman Williams\u2019 attorneys accused the task force of having \u201ctunnel vision and focused solely on Herman Williams as the suspect in Penny\u2019s murder.\u201d Herman Williams\u2019 civil lawsuit alleged misconduct by members of the task force, the state\u2019s attorneys office and medical examiner. A sergeant on the case was also accused of \u201cmanufacturing\u201d a confession that \u201cHerman never gave,\u201d according to the statement from Williams\u2019 attorneys.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter his wrongful conviction in 1994, the damages Herman sustained as a result of the defendants\u2019 misconduct are unspeakable. Not only did he lose more than 28 years of his life and suffer in prison as an innocent man, but his two children, who were only six and three years old at the time of Penny\u2019s murder, grew up without either of their parents, and worse, under the mistaken belief that their father murdered their mother,\u201d said Antonio M. Romanucci, one of Williams\u2019 attorneys, in a statement. \u201cSince Herman was exonerated, he has reconciled with his children and is fighting every day to restore his life and his relationships.\u201d Williams was granted a Certificate of Innocence when he was released from prison.<\/p>\n
\u201cHerman\u2019s case was truly a travesty of justice, not only because Herman and his children suffered immeasurably, but because Penny Williams\u2019 murder remains unsolved,\u201d Brian Eldridge, a founding partner of Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge and one of Williams\u2019 attorneys, said in a statement. \u201cWhile Herman can never get back the years he spent in prison as an innocent man, we hope this settlement will help him close this painful chapter in his life and find peace in the years ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Q: How long was Herman Williams imprisoned for a crime he did not commit?
\nA: Herman Williams was imprisoned for 28 years for the murder of his ex-wife, Penny Williams, despite maintaining his innocence throughout.
\nQ: What was the basis of the civil lawsuit filed by Herman Williams?
\nA: The civil lawsuit alleged misconduct by members of the task force, the state\u2019s attorneys office, and medical examiner, including a fabricated confession and false testimony.
\nQ: What was the outcome of the civil lawsuit?
\nA: Herman Williams was awarded a $13 million settlement through the civil federal lawsuit.
\nQ: What is the current status of Penny Williams\u2019 murder case?
\nA: Penny Williams\u2019 murder remains unsolved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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