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Inmate freed in landmark Illinois case

This undated photo provided by the Illinois Department of Corrections shows inmate Alstory Simon. On Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, a Cook County judge ordered the release of Simon, whose confession helped free a death row inmate in a 1982 double killing. Simon’s confession in the high-profile case led to the 1999 release of Anthony Porter, who had spent 16 years on death row and whose supporters maintained he was wrongfully convicted. (AP Photo/Illinois Department of Corrections)
This undated photo provided by the Illinois Department of Corrections shows inmate Alstory Simon. On Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, a Cook County judge ordered the release of Simon, whose confession helped free a death row inmate in a 1982 double killing. Simon’s confession in the high-profile case led to the 1999 release of Anthony Porter, who had spent 16 years on death row and whose supporters maintained he was wrongfully convicted. (AP Photo/Illinois Department of Corrections) This undated photo provided by the Illinois Department of Corrections shows inmate Alstory Simon. On Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, a Cook County judge ordered the release of Simon, whose confession helped free a death row inmate in a 1982 double killing. Simon’s confession in the high-profile case led to the 1999 release of Anthony Porter, who had spent 16 years on death row and whose supporters maintained he was wrongfully convicted. (AP Photo/Illinois Department of Corrections)

By Associated Press 1 min read

CHICAGO (AP) – A man whose confession had helped free a death row inmate has been released from an Illinois prison after he recanted and a judge vacated his conviction.

The case was instrumental in the campaign to end capital punishment in Illinois.

Alstory Simon left the Jacksonville Correctional Center Thursday afternoon. A re-examination of his case by county prosecutors led a Cook County judge to vacate his conviction and order his immediate release at a hearing earlier Thursday.

Simon’s initial confession led to the 1999 release of Anthony Porter, who had spent 16 years on death row.

Simon later alleged he was coerced into confessing by a private investigator who he says promised him he would get an early release and a share of the profits from book and movie deals.