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Cook County judge overturns murder conviction of woman who said she was framed by disgraced detective

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Published  January 3, 2023 12:30pm CST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 32 Chicago

Judge overturns 1993 murder conviction of Chicago woman

A Chicago woman who spent 17 years behind bars for a double murder has had her conviction overturned.

CHICAGO - A Chicago woman who spent 17 years behind bars for a double murder has had her conviction overturned.

Madeline Mendoza is one of dozens of people allegedly framed by a disgraced Chicago police detective.

"I'm actually super excited. Beyond recognition," said Mendoza, as she and her attorney walked out of a Cook County courtroom, where moments earlier a judge vacated her 1993 conviction.

"It is a long time coming," said Joel Flaxman, Mendoza's attorney. "The arrest was back in 1992. She was found guilty in 1993."

Mendoza was just 16-years-old when she and two other women were arrested and charged with killing two gang members in Humboldt Park. At the time, police said they lured the men into a bathroom then shot them in the head.

Judge overturns murder conviction of woman who said she was framed by former Chicago detective

A woman who was allegedly falsely implicated by Chicago police detectives for the murders of two men in 1992 will have her conviction vacated.

That investigation was led by disgraced Chicago police detective Reynaldo Guevara, who is accused of coercing false confessions in dozens of cases. Those accusations have prompted Cook County prosecutors to toss more than 30 of Guevara's convictions.

Mendoza's attorney said they also uncovered new evidence proving her innocence.

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"We brought that evidence to the court and today, after the state had reviewed it they agreed to vacate the conviction and that's what the judge did," Flaxman said.

Mendoza has been out of prison for 13 years, but said she never actually felt free until today.

"I want to become an attorney," said Mendoza. "I want to fight for people just like me. Situations like me. And not only like me, I want to fight for justice period."

Mendoza plans to return to court to get a certificate of innocence, which will formally clear her of the charges and include some financial compensation.