EDMOND, OKLAHOMA – Glynn Simmons, a 71-year-old man who spent nearly five decades in prison for a murder he did not commit, will receive a $7.15 million settlement from the city of Edmond, Oklahoma.
Simmons, who is Black, served more time behind bars before being exonerated than any other inmate in US history, according to The National Registry of Exonerations.
Simmons was released from prison last year after serving a total of 48 years, one month, and 18 days. On Monday, Edmond city councilors voted to approve the settlement, resolving claims against the city and one of the detectives involved in his wrongful conviction.
Lawyers for Simmons described the payment as a “partial settlement” of his lawsuit against the city and police who they allege falsified evidence to frame him. “Mr. Simmons spent a tragic amount of time incarcerated for a crime he did not commit,” said lead attorney Elizabeth Wang. “Although he will never get that time back, this settlement with Edmond will allow him to move forward while also continuing to press his claims against” Oklahoma City and a leading detective.
Simmons and another man, Don Roberts, were sentenced to death in 1975 for the murder of a liquor store clerk during a robbery in Edmond. Their sentences were later commuted to life in prison. The conviction was based solely on the testimony of a teenage customer who was shot during the robbery but survived. However, subsequent investigations raised significant doubts about the reliability of her identification of Simmons and Roberts.
Both men maintained their innocence, claiming they were not in Oklahoma at the time of the murder. In July 2022, US District Court Judge Amy Palumbo overturned Simmons’ conviction, and he was officially declared innocent in December. Roberts was released from prison in 2008.
The settlement with Edmond marks a significant step towards justice for Simmons, who spent decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit. However, his legal battle continues as he pursues claims against Oklahoma City and a detective involved in his wrongful conviction.
