A 78-year-old man named Ronald Thatcher, who was found guilty of murder in 1986, has been given bail after spending 37 years in prison. This happened because new DNA evidence came to light, which might show he didn’t commit the crime.
On October 12, 2023, Judge Martin Reynolds allowed Thatcher to be released from prison. This is important because it means he can get special medical care for his serious lung cancer while his lawyers work to prove he’s innocent. This is the third time this year that someone over 75 has been let out of prison for health reasons.
Scientists tested DNA samples from the crime scene using new technology that wasn’t available back then. They found DNA from two men that doesn’t match Thatcher. This raises questions about whether he really killed Sarah Martinez.
In Pennsylvania, only a small number of old prisoners get this kind of release. To qualify, they must be very sick and have strong proof that they might be innocent. Thatcher met these conditions because of his illness and the new DNA results.
After being released, Thatcher has to wear a monitoring device and stay with his daughter in Philadelphia. He can’t leave the area without permission from the court.
The district attorney, Michael Coleman, is looking into Thatcher’s case again, but he believes there was other evidence that led to the original guilty decision. His team has 90 days to decide what to do next.
Thatcher’s lawyer, Jennifer Martinez, is pushing for quick progress because her client is very unwell.
