Part 5/10:
The Breakthrough with DNA Evidence
In 1988, Harris became one of the first in America to request DNA testing to prove his innocence. Despite setbacks—DNA evidence was destroyed or mishandled—his persistence paid off. In 1995, new techniques revealed sperm evidence from the crime scene that confirmed his innocence.
This breakthrough marked the beginning of Harris’s exoneration process. The DNA finally cleared his name, leading to his removal from death row. Yet, living free did not erase the scars left by decades of mistreatment and systemic failure. Harris’s fight for justice was coupled with the struggle to reintegrate into society and rebuild his purpose.