In a field in Inkster, Michigan, the body of Michael Martin was discovered, a life cut short by gunfire in 2002. The investigation that followed would lead to the arrest and conviction of two men, George Clark and Kevin Harrington, who would spend nearly two decades behind bars proclaiming their innocence. Their fight for freedom would eventually unravel a story of alleged police misconduct and a justice system that had failed them.
The case against Clark and Harrington rested heavily on
the testimony of a single eyewitness. However, there was no physical evidence linking either man to the murder of Michael Martin. Despite this, both men were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Harrington, who was just a college student at the time of his arrest, endured four separate trials; the first verdict was overturned, the next two resulted in hung juries, and the fourth led to his conviction.
Years later, the case was re-examined by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office's Conviction Integrity Unit. Their investigation uncovered what was described as a 'troubling pattern of behavior' by the lead detectives on the case. It was alleged that detectives had threatened and coerced a woman into falsely identifying Clark and Harrington as the perpetrators of Michael Martin's murder. This witness had reportedly told investigators numerous times that she did not see anything, but was pressured into providing a false story. Additionally, new evidence emerged, including a witness who claimed to have seen another man arguing with Martin shortly before hearing gunshots, and another who could provide an alibi for Clark at the time of the murder.
In April 2020, after serving nearly 18 years in prison, both George Clark and Kevin Harrington were exonerated. The charges against them were dismissed, and they were released. Following their release, Clark and Harrington filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Inkster and the two former detectives involved in their case, seeking $160 million in damages for the years they lost. The lawsuit alleged that their constitutional rights were violated due to the fabrication of evidence and malicious prosecution. The actual killer of Michael Martin was never identified.
