'San Antonio 4' exonerated nearly two decades after wrongful child sex convictions
11/23/2016 12:56 pm PST
via KABB:
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- (KABB) -- The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has ruled that four San Antonio women who served almost 15 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of sexually assaulting two young girls should be exonerated of the charges.
The majority opinion issued by the court Wednesday declares that Elizabeth Ramirez, Kristie Mayhugh, Cassandra Rivera and Anna Vasquez are innocent and could make them eligible for millions in state compensation.
The women's stories were the focus of a documentary currently airing on the Investigation Discovery channel called Southwest of Salem.
The so-called "San Antonio 4" were convicted in 1998 after two of Ramirez's nieces, ages 7 and 9, accused them of sexually assaulting and threatening to kill them in 1994.
Vasquez said of the panel's ruling on Wednesday, "We can't believe it!"
Three of the women were released in 2013 after one of the nieces recanted and challenges were raised about expert testimony. Vasquez had previously been paroled. The four have been seeking exoneration.
FULL STORY: 'San Antonio 4' exonerated nearly two decades after wrongful child sex convictions - KABB