Chicago man locked up for decades freed after judge vacates 1996 murder conviction

COOK COUNTY - A Chicago man who served nearly 30 years in prison was released on Thursday after having his conviction in a 1996 murder vacated.

"I didn’t think this day was going to happen. They had me in that cage for 28 years and 10 months, for something I had nothing to do with," said Robert Johnson, who walked out of the Cook County jail, all smiles.

He was surrounded by family members who supported him and had faith in him for decades.

"She never left me, always was there for me," said Johnson about his grandmother who was raising him at the time of his conviction.

Robinson is 92 years old, but will turn 93 next month.

"I prayed. My only wish was, ‘Lord let me live to see my grandson walk through my door, let me see him come home’ – and he did it," said Robinson.

What we know:

Johnson’s convictions for first-degree murder, armed robbery and home invasion were vacated on Feb. 19 by Judge Joanne Rosado.

The judge also ordered a new trial based on Johnson’s innocence, according to a release from the Exoneration Project. Two attorneys with The Exoneration Project are representing Johnson.

Johnson was arrested at 16-years-old in connection with the 1996 murder of Eddie Binion. He has spent the last nearly 29 years fighting his conviction.

During the trial, no physical evidence or eyewitnesses tied Johnson to the crime, according to the Exoneration Project.

The victim’s girlfriend and sister both testified that Johnson was not one of the perpetrators. However, he was convicted based on testimony from a juvenile co-defendant who received a plea deal in exchange for false testimony.

That co-defendant has since identified the true perpetrator and alleged that police forced him to falsely implicate Johnson.

Johnson’s legal team presented the recantation, along with testimony from another co-defendant who corroborated the juvenile’s claims.

After hearing the testimony, Rosado deemed the witnesses credible and granted Johnson post-conviction relief.

Robert Johnson

What's next:

As a free man, Johnson said he wants to shine a bigger spotlight on the wrongfully accused.

"I screamed, nobody would listen to me, and I just want the world to know that there is still people here in prison and in Cook County Jail for things they didn't commit," said Johnson.

So what is the first thing he’s looking forward to now that he’s free?

"I guess really just a home-cooked meal. The food in prison, I’m sure you all know, is horrible!" Johnson laughed.

Johnson had a detention hearing on Thursday morning before he was released in the evening.

His attorney, Megan Richardson, said they have a court hearing in March when the state will decide to retry Johnson’s case, dismiss it or appeal the court’s decision to vacate his conviction.

"For now, it’s a celebration and in this work, you take every victory you can get, so we are celebrating," said Richardson, who’s also with The Exoneration Project.