JUAN MELENDEZ

JUAN IS A JOURNEY BOARD MEMBER (2003)

Juan Melendez, left, smiles as he leaves the Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Fla., Thursday night. Accompanying Melendez are investigator Rosa Greenbaum, right, and attorney Marty McClain.

AP photo by Jon M. Fletcher. Used without permission.

Juan Roberto Melendez Colon became the 24th person exonerated and released from Florida's death row when he was freed on January 3, 2002 after spending almost 18 years facing execution for a crime he had nothing to do with. Melendez was convicted in 1984 at the age of 33 with no physical evidence linking him to the crime and testimony from questionable witnesses. In fact, prosecutors hid evidence and lied to the court in order to protect the real killer, a police informant. Melendez's conviction fell apart when the police informant's confession came to light in 1999 - a confession that prosecutors knew about before they took Melendez to trial. Of course, the state of Florida refuses to apologize or admit wrongdoing, and gave Melendez the same thing it gives every prisoner when they leave prison - $100. (Hardy Pickard, the lead prosecutor in Melendez' case, is still working as a State's Attorney in Polk County, Florida.)

Known to his friends as "Johnny," Melendez was born in Brooklyn but grew up in Puerto Rico, where he currently lives. Since his release, Melendez spends a lot of time giving presentations about his experiences. He can be contacted at Juan@JourneyofHope.org

Internet sites about Juan

Time to Balance the Scales: Death Row Survivor Juan Roberto Melendez Speaks Out Across Florida

Juan Melendez and Bud Welch Choosing Forgiveness -- from Opposite Places Hill Connections

Information provided by Juan Melendez when he was still on death row and wrote to the CCADP for assistance.....

Judge cites prosecutor trickery, orders retrial By DAVID KARP © St. Petersburg Times

Innocent of Death Row in Florida 17 years. JUST EXONERATED

Florida death row inmate to be released, 99th freed nationwide.

Juan Melendez Freed from Death Row by Mike Vasilinda Capitol News Service

A dead man walking toward freedom? ---The uncertain future of Florida death row inmate Juan Melendez

Brief Case Histories on Krone, Melendez and Bloodsworth Death Penalty ACLU

Comunita di Sant Egidio No alla Pena di Morte Campagna Internationale

Another Death Row Mistake Washington Post Editorial