inmate named Roger Mims, who claimed that Vernon James had admitted having a sexual relationship with Baker and that he had killed him along with two other men. Melendez was also at a disadvantage in that he was unable to read or write English and was said to have a ninth-grade education level. In the end, Melendez was found guilty and sentenced to death. Appeals and release Melendez's conviction and death sentence were upheld on appeal three times by the Florida Supreme Court. Sixteen years after his conviction, Melendez was nearing the end of his appeals when his current attorneys conducted a search through the files of Melendez's original defense lawyer and discovered the taped confession made by Vernon James. They were also able to locate other witnesses who recalled that Vernon James had confessed to the murder before he died. In light of the new evidence, Justice Barbara Fleischer determined that Melendez was entitled to a new trial. In turn, the state of Florida declined to prosecute a second time since the key witness at the original trial, David Falcon, was then dead and another witness for the prosecution had since recanted his testimony. Melendez spent a total of 17 years, eight months and one day of incarceration before being released from the Union Correctional Institution on January 3, 2002. Upon release he received $100 compensation from the state. He has not received any further compensation, nor an official apology from the state of Florida. Melendez now lives in New Mexico and also tours the world to tell his personal story and to discuss the issues surrounding the death penalty. He is also a member of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and the Journey of Hope ... from violence to Healing. See also Capital punishment debate List of exonerated death row inmates List of wrongful convictions in the United States Wrongful conviction References 1951 births Living people American prisoners sentenced to death Prisoners sentenced to death by Florida Overturned convictions in the United States