A man who was wrongly convicted of a 1988 murder is now fighting to have his conviction overturned, potentially becoming the 45th person to do so. Edwin Ortiz, who spent 25 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, was just 15 years old when he was arrested and sentenced for the murder of Jose Morales in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood.
Ortiz’s case is linked to disgraced former Chicago police Detective Reynaldo Guevara. Ortiz’s attorneys argue that Guevara manipulated and bribed an eyewitness to wrongly identify Ortiz as the shooter. According to them, Guevara was notorious for “terrorizing and framing dozens of innocent people,” particularly in the Humboldt Park area.
The attorneys also noted that Guevara has avoided addressing his actions, invoking his Fifth Amendment rights when questioned about whether he falsified evidence and coerced witnesses.
On Thursday, Ortiz expressed his gratitude, saying, “Today’s a new day, a new beginning. And I want to thank everybody who helped me. I appreciate y’all.”
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has announced that it will support efforts to overturn convictions in which Guevara played a significant role. This comes after the Exoneration Project reported that at least 44 murder convictions tied to Guevara have been overturned. Ortiz aims to become the 45th individual to clear his name.
Attorney Anand Swaminathan emphasized the broader impact, stating, “Because a family who lost a child did not get justice and another family lost their son for 36 years.”
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Of those whose convictions have been overturned, 25 have received certificates of innocence from the court, confirming their wrongful convictions. Guevara, who has since retired from the Chicago Police Department, now lives in Texas and receives a city pension.
