Willie Knighten does not shy away from admitting who he used to be:  a gang leader.  But a murderer he was not.  Nonetheless, he was convicted in a bench trial of the 1996 drive-by shooting of Irving Turner and sentenced to life in prison.

Other inmates, as well as friends on the outside, knew Willie was innocent. 

In 2009, 13 years into his sentence, Willie got the astonishing news that he was being released; the judge had too many doubts about the conviction and so Governor Ted Strickland granted clemency.  In 2024 Governor Mike DeWine granted Willie a full, unconditional pardon.

Yet, in spite of two pardons by two governors, Willie’s case is still not considered a true exoneration.  That won’t happen unless and until the Lucas County Prosecutor grants him a writ of wrongful dismissal.

The new CIU at the LCPO is currently evaluating the Knighten case.  They have been provided with a substantial amount of evidence…facts uncovered by Willie’s team in just the past few years.

Willie Knighten is not bitter at all.  He credits God and Judge Skow with his life’s turn around and he has lived ever since his release as a thankful citizen who believes in giving back to the community.