What to Know
- A Bronx man who spent 20 years in jail is a free man after his murder conviction was vacated Monday
- Larry McKee was sentenced in 1997 to 24 years to life in prison for the second-degree murder of 29-year-old Theodore Vance
- During a review of the case, a grand jury testimony of a witness who heard Vance’s last words was discovered
A Bronx man who spent 20 years in jail is a free man after his murder conviction was vacated Monday.
Larry McKee, 47, was released by a judge after being sentenced in 1997 to 24 years to life in prison in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Theodore Vance.
McKee's attorney, Michael Talassazan, contacted the Bronx District Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unit six months ago with new evidence and asked the unit to review the case, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said in a statement.
During the review, a grand jury testimony of a witness who heard Vance’s last words was discovered. Vance said a Hispanic man shot him. McKee is black.
This testimony was never turned over to the defense, Clark said.
“Our Conviction Integrity Unit has corrected a wrong from the past. We will never stop in our quest to ensure fairness and integrity in the criminal justice system,” Clark said.
