Man ‘framed’ in ‘satanic’ murder freed after 22 years wins $24M as real killer still unknown

A Kentucky antheral who spent much than 2 decades down bars for a execution helium says was built connected fabricated grounds has been awarded much than $24 million, aft a assemblage recovered helium was wrongfully convicted successful a lawsuit erstwhile described by prosecutors arsenic a "satanic" killing.

Jeffrey Clark was 21 years aged erstwhile helium and his person Keith Hardin were convicted successful the 1992 stabbing decease of 19-year-old Rhonda Sue Warford, whose assemblage was recovered successful a tract successful Meade County days aft she disappeared from her Louisville home.

At trial, prosecutors argued the sidesplitting was tied to a ritualistic motive, pointing to witnesser grounds and forensic grounds that Clark aboriginal challenged arsenic mendacious oregon misleading successful tribunal filings.

Clark spent much than 22 years successful situation earlier caller DNA investigating undermined cardinal grounds utilized to convict him. His condemnation was vacated successful 2016, and charges were formally dismissed successful 2018.

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Mr. Clark, center, with his Loevy ineligible squad pursuing the verdict. [L-R: Melinda Ek, Elliot Slosar, Amy Staples, Jimmer Dudley, Stephany Janssen, and Julia Quinn] (Loevy + Loevy)

"I yet consciousness similar I americium capable to aftermath up from a 34-year nightmare," Clark said aft the verdict.

In a civilian lawsuit, Clark accused investigators of engaging successful misconduct to unafraid his conviction, including fabricating statements, pressuring witnesses and withholding grounds that could person supported his innocence.

According to the complaint, detectives attributed statements to Hardin suggesting the sidesplitting was portion of a ritual, contempt nary autarkic grounds to enactment that claim.

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The suit besides alleges authorities relied connected grounds from a jailhouse informant who received benefits successful speech for cooperating, portion failing to disclose accusation that could person undermined his credibility.

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An ex-girlfriend’s grounds portraying Clark arsenic progressive successful satanic practices was besides called into question, with the suit alleging her statements conflicted with earlier accounts.

Investigators besides failed to prosecute different imaginable fishy who had allegedly confessed to the killing, according to the complaint.

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Rhonda Warford, a 19-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, whose 1992 sidesplitting remains unsolved. (Justice for Rhonda Sue Warford Facebook page)

The lawsuit aboriginal drew attraction from the Innocence Project, which said advances successful DNA investigating yet discredited the prosecution’s halfway forensic evidence.

Testing showed that hairsbreadth presented astatine proceedings arsenic accordant with Hardin did not beryllium to him, Clark oregon the victim. Additional investigating confirmed that humor recovered connected a handkerchief, which prosecutors had tied to alleged ritual activity, belonged to Hardin, accordant with his relationship astatine trial.

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The enactment besides pointed to grounds that a jailhouse informant attempted to coordinate mendacious grounds and that investigators did not travel up connected different imaginable suspect.

Clark’s ineligible squad has besides highlighted the relation of the pb detective successful the case, who was aboriginal convicted successful an unrelated substance involving perjury and grounds tampering, further raising questions astir the archetypal investigation.

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Rhonda Sue Warford was recovered stabbed to decease successful Meade County, Kentucky, successful 1992. (Justice for Rhonda Sue Warford Facebook page)

The suit further alleges investigators adjusted the timeline of Warford’s decease to acceptable their mentation of the case. Authorities initially believed the sidesplitting occurred days aft she disappeared, erstwhile Clark and Hardin had alibis, but aboriginal focused connected an earlier timeframe that weakened those alibis, according to the complaint.

A assemblage yet recovered successful Clark’s favor, awarding him $24.35 cardinal successful compensatory damages on with further punitive damages.

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Meade County officials said the verdict is nether review.

"A verdict was rendered … and it is nether valuation arsenic to our adjacent people of action," the region said successful a statement, adding it has nary further remark pending ineligible review.

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Despite Clark’s exoneration and the multimillion-dollar award, Warford’s sidesplitting remains unsolved, and nary 1 has been convicted successful the case.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office for comment.