On October 16, 2008, James L. Owens became the seventh man in Maryland history to be exonerated by DNA evidence. Owens served more than 20 years for the brutal stabbing and strangling of a 24-year-old woman from Southeast Baltimore.

At his 1988 trial, the prosecution alleged that Owens and another man, James Thompson, had attempted to burglarize the home of victim Colleen Williar. Thompson testified that he was present when Owens raped and murdered Williar in her bed. While Owens was never found guilty of rape, he was convicted of the murder. He became the first man to be sentenced under Maryland’s life without parole statute.

Thompson recanted his testimony almost immediately after the trial, but Owens remained in prison.

Owens never stopped professing his innocence, but it took 18 years for his pleas to be heard. While the alleged murder weapon and other physical evidence had been destroyed by the Baltimore Police, a sperm sample taken from the victim was located. DNA testing revealed that the rapist was neither Thompson nor Owens. Thompson’s testimony and the state’s theory were discredited, and Owens’ conviction was vacated.

Although the prosecution had the opportunity to pursue a new trial, Thompson refused to testify against Owens a second time. In addition, five other witnesses had died in the 18 years since the crime. Confronted by these facts, and by the truth of DNA testing, the prosecuting authorities elected to drop all of the charges. James L. Owens left prison as a free man.

"You can’t give me that time back," James Owens said shortly after being released. "You can’t give me that back. That’s all I got to say."