Humberto Duran Declared Factually Innocent After 30 Years for 1993 Murder

Humberto “Beto” Duran was officially declared factually innocent of a 1993 East Los Angeles murder, after spending 30 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. The wrongful conviction was primarily based on the testimony of a single eyewitness, who later recanted, revealing that deputies pressured her to identify Duran as the killer. Duran's trial was also marred by ineffective legal counsel, as key alibi witnesses and evidence of third-party culpability were not presented. A comprehensive review, prompted by advocacy from innocence projects and new evidence, led to his conviction being vacated and the case dismissed. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and the California Innocence Advocates played pivotal roles in reinvestigating the case and supporting Duran's motion for factual innocence. Duran’s exoneration highlights systemic flaws in the justice system and the profound personal cost of wrongful convictions.