Central Pennsylvanians Against the Death Penalty press release

Yarris Officially cleared by DelCo DA
Death Penalty Opponents call on Rendell, Legislature for Action

After spending 21 years on Pennsylvania's death row for a murder he did not commit, Nicholas Yarris was officially exonerated today of the 1981 murder of Linda Craig when Delaware County District Attorney G. Michael Green announced in court that he would not seek a retrial.

Yarris' original conviction and sentence were vacated in September when DNA evidence conclusively eliminated him as the assailant. Delaware County prosecutors were then given 120 days to decide if they would retry Yarris in the case.

"Mr. Green did the right and just thing today," said Andy Hoover, president of Central Pennsylvanians to Abolish the Death Penalty. "Now it's time for Governor Rendell and the legislature to do the right and just thing: Declare a moratorium on executions.

"Anything short of a moratorium is irresponsible leadership."

Yarris remains in state custody due to charges surrounding his 1985 escape. He was apprehended in Florida after avoiding capture for three weeks. Yarris' lawyers are hopeful that he can be released for time served.

Since 1973, 112 death row prisoners have been cleared of the crimes that landed them on death row nationwide. Yarris is the 10th exonerate this year.

Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in the Commonwealth in 1978, six death row inmates have been exonerated. During that time, three people have been executed.

"No reasonable person could support a system that could potentially kill an innocent person," Hoover said. "Some will say that Nick's case shows that the system works. The system doesn't work. The system didn't work for Nick Yarris or his family. The system didn' work for Linda Craig or her family."

"Because the system failed, the real killer walks free somewhere today."

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