Daisy Phillipson
A man who was wrongly jailed for 30 years has tragically died just months after being released.
Claude Francis Garrett finally got to taste freedom back in May after he was exonerated of murder and released from Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Tennessee, US.
Back in 1993, the 65-year-old was wrongfully convicted of killing his then 24-year-old girlfriend Lorie Lance in what was suggested to be an arson attack.
After being sentenced to life in prison, Garrett maintained his innocence – but it would take nearly three decades for the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office to decide to reinvestigate his case.
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In May, after the so-called evidence used to convict Garrett was dismissed as 'junk science', the charges were overturned and he was released from prison.
But in a tragic turn of events, his friend and US criminal justice system journalist Liliana Segura has announced that he has died.
In a Twitter thread posted earlier this week, she wrote: "There is no easy way to share this news. Claude Garrett died yesterday, less than 6 months after he was exonerated and released from prison.
"He appears to have died in his sleep. He was just short of his 66th birthday."
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Alongside a tweet she posted in September of their meetup four months after his exoneration, she added: "This is the last time I saw him.
"I don't have words yet; it's heartbreaking and deeply unfair. Claude spent 30 years behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. He fought so hard.
"He was patient, focused, and when the day finally came, careful not to exhale prematurely. Not until he knew the state wouldn't appeal."
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Segura continued: "Claude had plans. He wanted the state to be held accountable for his wrongful conviction. He wanted compensation.
"It is unfathomable to me that the people most responsible for stealing so much of his life will never have to confront what they did, that they will outlive him."
Outlining how she will share more about the sad news soon, the journalist concluded: "Thanks to everyone who helped Claude win his freedom. Thanks to everyone who followed and shared his story.
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"Rest in power, Claude Francis Garrett. I will miss you."
Many people have taken to the comments section to share their condolences while expressing anger at the injustice of the situation.
"The unfairness of this world is hard to comprehend," wrote one. "It is enraging."
Another said: "I'm so sorry. This is heartbreaking. I followed Claude's story for many years. Thank you for the work you did to help us remember him."
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A third added: "This is one of those moments where I feel life is so unfair I can barely stand it. May he be at peace and finding joy in the next phase of being."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677