A man with developmental disabilities, who was wrongly convicted of murder and spent over 16 years in prison, has reached a settlement of $11,725,000 with the city of Elkhart, Indiana, according to his lawyers. Andrew Royer, now 48 years old, expressed his disbelief and joy upon learning about the settlement. He stated that he feels like a new person and is ecstatic about his newfound freedom.
Royer was convicted by a jury in 2002 for the killing of 94-year-old Helen Sailor, who was found strangled in a downtown Elkhart apartment. Law enforcement officials initially claimed that the crime was a result of a violent burglary. However, there were significant issues with the prosecution’s case from the beginning.
Royer’s lawyers argued on appeal that he was coerced into giving a false confession without legal representation during a two-day interrogation. His confession was marked by uncertainty and lacked crucial details, as reported by the Indy Star in 2017. Furthermore, there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime.
One of Royer’s co-defendants, Lana Canen, had her conviction overturned in 2012. During the initial trial, a detective presented evidence that Canen’s fingerprint was found at the crime scene. However, re-examination of the fingerprint later revealed that it did not match. Additionally, a witness who had placed Canen and Royer at the victim’s apartment recanted her testimony, stating that she had been coerced by the police.
In March 2020, Royer was granted a new trial after a judge deemed his statements “unreliable” and “involuntary.” He was subsequently released from prison the following month. The state appealed the ruling, but in April 2021, the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s decision for a new trial. The appellate court criticized the investigating detective, Carlton Conway, for providing false testimony during the initial trial and accused him of withholding the truth.
Detective Carlton Conway resigned months later, after the Elkhart police chief sought to have him fired. In July 2021, the state filed a motion to dismiss the case, and no other arrests have been made in connection with Helen Sailor’s murder.
Royer’s mother, Jeannie Pennington, expressed her joy and relief at seeing her son grow into a remarkable person. She mentioned that his release in 2020 coincided with the pandemic lockdown, allowing him to gradually adjust to society’s reopening without overwhelming challenges.
The city of Elkhart did not provide any comment regarding the settlement, but Mayor Rod Roberson emphasized the administration’s commitment to building positive relationships with the community. This settlement comes after Elkhart reached a $7.5 million agreement with Keith Cooper in 2022 for his wrongful conviction in a 1997 robbery case.
Since his release, Royer, who currently resides in Goshen, Indiana, has been participating in church trips to aid in rebuilding houses in disaster-stricken areas. He expressed gratitude for his freedom, stating that he has overcome the difficulties of adjusting to life outside prison and now enjoys the support of his family.
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