Wrongfully Convicted for 50 Years, Illinois Men Fight to Fix Broken Justice System

As the White House intensifies its efforts for criminal justice reform, two Illinois residents personify the harrowing realities of wrongful convictions. Frankie Benitez and Troshawn McCoy were merely teenagers when court documents reveal they were detained in Chicago and coerced into confessing to crimes they did not commit. Collectively, they endured over 50 years in prison, a tragic statistic from the “wrongful conviction capital of the nation.”“I never thought this day would come. I thank God daily for my freedom,” stated Benitez, who spent 34 years incarcerated. Now, as a security officer at the Field Museum in Chicago, he navigates a world vastly changed from when he was imprisoned.The “Marquette Park Four,” wrongfully convicted of a double murder in 1995, experienced similar injustices. They were manipulated into confessing, lacking any physical evidence connecting them to the crime, ultimately leading to their exoneration.McCoy highlights the trauma of his experience, reflecting, “Being institutionalized for so long leaves you unprepared for the chaos outside.” Both men illustrate the persistent issues within the justice system. (Photo: Ashonti Ford video screenshot)