An Oklahoma man, Glynn Simmons, who was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1975, has been exonerated after spending over 48 years in prison. The ruling, delivered by Judge Amy Palumbo of Oklahoma County District Court, declared Simmons innocent and overturned his conviction. This makes Simmons the longest-serving inmate to be declared innocent in the United States, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.

Simmons, now 70 years old, had been released on bond in July after District Attorney Vicki Zemp Behenna reviewed his case and discovered that crucial evidence had not been disclosed to his defense lawyers. An amended order, signed by Judge Palumbo on Tuesday, stated that there was "clear and convincing evidence" that Simmons did not commit the crime for which he was imprisoned. His time behind bars - 48 years, one month, and 18 days - surpassed that of any other person cleared of charges.

Simmons, who was not available for comment on Wednesday, was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with a liquor store robbery in Edmond, Oklahoma, in 1974. He and his codefendant, Don Roberts, were accused of killing Carolyn Sue Rogers, a store clerk. The police investigation initially focused on two other men, Leonard Patterson and Delbert Patterson, who were involved in a different murder. Simmons and Roberts were placed in police lineups after attendees of a party that the Patterson brothers had attended at the time were also included in the lineup.

Prosecutors relied heavily on the testimony of a woman who had been shot in the head during the robbery. She identified Simmons and Roberts as the perpetrators. However, the witness later contradicted some of her own testimony. Initially, both Simmons and Roberts were sentenced to death, but due to a 1972 Supreme Court ruling deeming the death penalty unconstitutional, their sentences were later changed to life in prison.

Joe Norwood, Simmons' attorney, stated that the recent ruling paves the way for Simmons to potentially receive up to $175,000 in compensation and allows him to file a federal lawsuit. Norwood highlighted that Simmons, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, had been relying on donations made through an online crowdfunding platform to support himself. He emphasized that Simmons had been deprived of work experience and the ability to secure financial stability for himself and his family.

The ruling by Judge Palumbo not only grants Simmons his freedom but also provides an opportunity for him to seek justice and compensation for the decades he spent behind bars for a crime he did not commit. As Simmons stated during a news conference after the ruling, his case serves as a lesson in resilience and tenacity, demonstrating that wrongful convictions can indeed be overturned.