At the hearing on Monday, expert testimony showed that bite-mark evidence on the victims left cheek used at trial has been determined to be unreliable police used beeswax to take an impression of DuBoises teeth and that DNA showed conclusively he was not a suspect in the assault of Grams. Robert DuBoise is pictured on his bed at his new home in Tampa. Robert DuBoise, 55, meets reporters with his sister Harriet, left, and mother Myra, outside the Hardee county correctional institute after his release on 27 August in Hardee county, Florida. Robert DuBoise, 55, has spent two-thirds of his life behind bars for the 1983 rape and killing of a woman in Tampa, Fla. Robert A. Dubois Obituary. He denied receiving any benefit in exchange for his testimony. In 2007, Mr. DuBoise filed a motion to have DNA from his case tested, but the evidence admitted at his trial had been destroyed in 1990, and Mr. DuBoises motion was denied, prosecutors said. However, years of research have wholly undermined this assertion. So when he heard the news he was thrilled, but his reaction was, Its like waking up from a nightmare., Ms. Gramss family could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday. Grams was attacked and beaten to death while walking home from her job at a restaurant on 19 August 1983. I hope that my story helps others to keep fighting to prove their innocence. A Florida man who was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering a woman walked free Thursday after 37 years behind bars. In brief remarks during the hearing, DuBoise, who was 18 at the time of the crime, said he had a lot of roadblocks thrown in my path. The inmate claimed that DuBoise had confessed to raping and murdering Grams alongside two other men, Teresa Hall,supervising attorney for the Conviction Review Unit, saidin a Thursday hearing. The testimony of DuBoises fellow inmate was also called into doubt. However, evidence on the case was presumed destroyedin 1990, apparently aspart of a routine process, Grayson Kamm, communications officer for the Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit, said in a phone interview with Oxygen.com. In 2020, through continued investigation and digging from the lead of the CRU and DuBoises counsel at the Innocence Project, slides of DNA from the original autopsy were discovered in storage at the office of the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner. Robert C Dubois, Age 91 Open report >> Lives: Sarasota, FL, in zip codes 34237 and 34235; Family and friends can send flowers and condolences in memory of the loved one. In March 1985, a jury convicted DuBoise of capital murder and attempted sexual battery and recommended a life sentence, but the judge overrode the recommendation and sentenced DuBoise to death. The American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO) has revised its standards and guidelines, and now explicitly states that an ABFO Diplomate shall not express conclusions unconditionally linking a bite mark to a dentition.. The Innocence Project began investigating DuBoises case in 2018 and in 2019 and requested that the CRU reopen the case based on new evidence about the jailhouse informant and concerns about the discredited bite mark evidence. One violent felony or more than one nonviolent felony will disqualify a person from Floridas Victims of Wrongful Incarceration Compensation Act which grants $50,000 per year of wrongful imprisonment by the State. DuBoise was just 18 when he arrested in the Grams slaying. provided cannot be used for any unlawful purpose. I am just so grateful that my voice was heard and the truth is out there, said DuBoise. He may be eligible for substantial compensation: in February, the state of Florida approved a $2 million compensation claim for a man whod been in prison since 1976 for a murder he didnt commit, CBS News reports. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. A Florida man exonerated of a 1983 rape and murder after serving 37 years in prison is suing over his wrongful conviction in which a disproven bite mark was crucial evidence. During the detectives canvas, DuBoise was identified as a person of interest after a local resident told police that he caused problems at their regular hangout. I am grateful to the Conviction Review Unit for their partnership on this case and look forward to collaborating on re-examining other bite mark cases to identify other wrongful convictions that resulted from the use of this highly unreliable evidence. said Susan Friedman, DuBoises Innocence Project attorney. and indictments stem from bite mark evidence, and the misapplication of forensic science was involved in 45 percent of DNA exoneration cases. The Innocence Project of Florida served as local counsel on the case. Robert F Debois, Dubois Robert Dubois, Robert I Dubois, Robert F Dubois, Robert F Du Bois Principal at Lord Is Good LLC , Professional Surveyors and Mappers at WINTER HAVEN SR HIGH SCHOOL All of the other physical evidence excluded DuBoise and there were no eyewitnesses that placed him near the crime scene. DuBoise maintained his innocence throughout his time in prison. Weve had an innocent man locked up for a crime that he did not commit, while the real perpetrator was never held accountable for this horrific murder, Andrew H. Warren, the state attorney in Hillsborough County, Fla., said Wednesday. He was released from prison last month. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Robert Dubois in Fort Lauderdale, FL 13 results - Robert Dubois may also have lived outside of Fort Lauderdale, such as Fort Walton Beach, Hollywood and 2 other cities in Florida. Major problems in the case quickly emerged. The Conviction Review Unit will continue to work with the court to finish exonerating DuBoise,Hall said in a phone interview with Oxygen.com. On September 14, 2020, Robert DuBoise became the 30th person exonerated from Florida's death row. Wrongful convictions deprive victims and their families of justice; they deserve the truthnot false closure based on a false story. By that point, Grams was being represented by Innocence Project attorney Susan Friedman. On October 22, the police brought DuBoise in at 2:00 a.m. and questioned him for about one hour. DuBoise appealed his case in 2006, hoping to prove his innocence with DNA evidence that couldn't be properly processed in the '80s. Were righting this wrong today, finally.. The brother and friend were never charged because there was no other evidence against them, prosecutors said. Fraud Alert:We have heard that there are people who fraudulently represent themselves as working for the Innocence Project of Florida, promising legal representation in exchange for money. Until 2016, Florida permitted trial judges to impose death sentences despite jury recommendations for life or based on non-unanimous jury votes for death. This sentence was later reduced to life in prison and thats where he remained for more than three decades. Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. Select this result to view Robert G Dubois's phone number, address, and more. In 1988, the Florida Supreme Court changed the sentence to life in prison. In short, there is not one shred of evidence that says that Robert DuBoise committed this crime, Mr. Warren said, and the DNA evidence compellingly points to his innocence.. In fact, the original prosecutions case rested rested primarily on two pieces of evidence:the testimony of a fellow inmate, and a woundon the woman's cheek that a dental expert identified as a bite mark from DuBoise's teeth, according to court documentsobtained by Oxygen.com. While we rely on charitable donations to support our work, we never solicit money for our services from our clients. The Innocence Project urged the CRU to review the case based on concerns about the validity of forensic bite mark evidence and the heavy reliance on that evidence in this case. As part of this effort, both parties worked collaboratively to re-investigate this crime. Robert DuBoise following his exoneration after 37 years on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in Tampa, Florida. The state has executed 99 prisoners during that period, or one exoneration for every 3.3 executions. Florida is the only state that disqualifies exonerees from being compensated if they were convicted of unrelated crimes. The testimony of DuBoises fellow inmate was also called into doubt. For 37 years, weve had an innocent man locked up in prisonwhile the real perpetrator was never held accountable for this heinous crime. Yet this was six months before Grams was slain. The DNA testing, prosecutors said, had identified two other men. A Florida trial court has freed a former death-row prisoner after local prosecutors said new DNA evidence had proven his innocence of the rape and murder for which he was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death 37 years ago. Lack of finances leads to lack of proper representation as we all know. The state took 37 years away from Robert, Friedman said. (August 27, 2020 Tampa, Florida) Today, Robert DuBoise walked free after spending almost 37 years in prison for a 1983 rape and murder in Tampa, Florida, he did not commit. Find Robert Dubois's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. Keep up the good work Innocence Project! A free man for the first time since he was a teenager, Mr. DuBoise must now put his life back together after almost 40 years in prison, the lawsuit says. Press "Enter" or click on the arrow to show results. Robert Ray Dubois, 73 Resides in Davenport, FL Lived In Kissimmee FL, Sevierville TN, Pigeon Forge TN, Bradford OH Related To William Dubois, Connie Dubois, Evelyn Dubois, Lisa Dubois, Diane Dubois Also known as Robert R Du Bois Includes Address (9) Phone (10) Email (2) See Results Robert Duane Dubois, 47 Resides in Daytona Beach, FL Robert DuBoise, 55, has spent two-thirds of his life behind bars for the 1983 rape and killing of a woman in Tampa, Fla. Far right Republicans wanted him executed years ago. After testifying in court against DuBoise and once a death sentence was secured, the informant received a further sentence reduction to time served and he was immediately released. John Counsman, and forensic dentist Dr. Richard Souviron. A forensic DNA analyst, Nancy Wilson, said two people were involved in the Grams assault, neither of them DuBoise. The lawsuit, first reported by theTampa Bay Times, seeks unspecified damages. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. He now has the freedom he has deserved all along. Youve never seen someone so happy to be cooking in the Florida heat, Kamm said, recalling DuBoise's first moments in the blazing sunlight as a free man. (September 14, 2020 Tampa, Florida) Today, Robert DuBoise was exonerated from all charges in the 1983 rape and murder of a young woman in Tampa, Florida. A few weeks later on September 14, 2020, the court vacated his wrongful convictions and the State dropped the charges against Robert DuBoise in a virtual hearing, exonerating him after 37 years incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. He was convicted of her murder and initially sentenced to death. This wont be easy, but it will be worth it, he said. In addition, the lawsuit contends that investigators conspired with jailhouse informants to falsely implicate DuBoise in the Grams killing and were guilty of misconduct in the handling of his case. Through observation and autopsy, authorities concluded the woman was raped and beaten to death. They erode confidence and trust in our system because, when you have a wrongful conviction, it means that we failed to do the most fundamental thing were supposed to do, which is to find the truth., Im proud that we were able to play a role in freeing an innocent man, he continued. Robert DuBoise, exonerated of 1983 murder, sues Tampa over imprisonment, Raymond Odierno, Army general who commanded in Iraq, dies of cancer at age 67, Justin McNeil appointed as new Jefferson County Supervisor of Elections, Antisemitic message distributor faces consequences in Palm Beach County court, Rick Scott says Democrats should be worried if Joe Biden is 2024 nominee, Last Call for 3.1.23 A prime-time read of whats going down in Florida politics, Jason Brodeur wants pay-to-play blog posts about elected officials reported with the state, Kamala Harris to speak at Miami Beach climate innovation summit. Website by MADEO. The Innocence Project, which is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, is a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Through observation and autopsy, authorities concluded the woman was raped and beaten to death. On 11/07/2006 STATE OF FLORIDA filed an Other - Other Criminal lawsuit against DUBOIS, ROBERT BRANDON. Floridas newly established Conviction Review Unit agreed to review DuBoises case in September 2019, according to a timeline the state attorneys office provided to Oxygen.com. The Crime On August 19, 1983, a young woman's body was found behind a dental office in Tampa, Florida. Robert Duboise served 37 years in Florida State Prison for the death of Barbara Grams, a 19-year-old Tampa woman police found beaten to death behind a dental practice in 1983. Souviron, whose practice is in Coral Gables, did not immediately return a telephone message Saturday seeking comment. Following DuBoises exoneration last year, Souviron told the Tampa Bay Times that he wouldnt be so adamant about his guilt if given another opportunity to testify. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Phone: (727) 642-3162 Charge: Capital Murder and Attempted Sexual Battery, Conviction: Capital Murder and Attempted Sexual Battery, Real perpetrator found? Including DuBoises case in the calculations, 22 of the 24 Florida exonerations for which the jurys sentencing vote is known (91.7%) have been in these cases. Supporters of DuBoise have requested $1.85 million in compensation from the state Legislature, but that claims bill has so far gone nowhere. Souviron, whose practice is in Coral Gables, Florida, did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment on the DuBoise case on Saturday. In 2014, the Florida Supreme Court adopted a rule of criminal procedure requiring the prosecution to disclose impeachment evidence on jailhouse informants within 15 days of the defense requesting discovery materials. During the reinvestigation, Dr. Adam Freeman, a forensic odontologist, reviewed the bite mark evidence and testimony in this case. As the case headed for trial, the State used a jailhouse informant to help build its case. Yes, positively identified by DNA, Contributing Causes: Faulty Forensic Science, and Jailhouse Informant Testimony. Warren said that his office was preparing court papers to complete the exoneration process. Robert DuBoise, 56, was just 18 years old when he was wrongfully imprisoned for the death of 19-year-old Barbara Grams in Tampa, Florida. The only physical evidence implicating Mr. DuBoise was fabricated bitemark evidence that supposedly matched Mr. DuBoise to an injury on the victims body. While the state is constitutionally obligated to provide the defense with key information related to the credibility of jailhouse informants, such as the benefits provided for their testimony, in many wrongful convictions this evidence is never disclosed. Killer Motive: What Drives People To Kill? Experience 17 projects New Constructions Prior to his conviction, he was transported to Hillsborough County Jail where a jailhouse informant interacted with him and later falsely testified DuBoise had confessed to the crime during his time there. On Sept. 11, 2020, the State filed its response asking that the Court find DuBoise innocent of the charges against him and to signify the Courts ruling as an exoneration of Mr. Robert DuBoise. The CRU also issued a Summary Fact Finding Report that stated that if Mr. DuBoise would be retried today, there would be clear and convincing evidence that he is innocent of the charges against him.. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. DuBoise was re-sentenced to life for the murder and 15 years for the attempted sexual battery to run consecutively. In the early morning of August 19, 1983, a young womans body was found behind a dental office in Tampa, Florida. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The Innocence Project, which is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, is a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The Judge overseeing this case is DRAPER, CAROL E. During 37 years in prison for the rape and murder of a 19-year-old woman in Tampa, Robert DuBoise never stopped trying to prove his innocence. After cooperating with law enforcement and providing a sworn statement in DuBoises case, he was offered a plea and sentenced to five years in prison. He has always maintained his innocence, but any hope of reversing his conviction seemed to evaporate in 1990 when the evidence from his trial was destroyed as part of a routine procedure. Refine Your Search Results. (Page 4) The family of the victim deserves to have the truth, as painful as it may be. Case Summary. It was DuBoises trial prosecutor who filed a Motion to Mitigate the jailhouse informants sentence citing his total cooperation with the State in DuBoises trial. 2. My small donations dont seem much but together we can all make a difference! I am grateful to be here, now with a chance to move forward, but I know there are more innocent people like me still behind bars, said DuBoise. If you believe you have been contacted by such a person, pleasecontact us. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Robert A. 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