Christopher Dunn’s Long Struggle for Justice: Incarcerated for Over 30 Years and Facing Delays in Release

For over 30 years, Christopher Dunn has been imprisoned in Missouri, a victim of a wrongful conviction that he has consistently maintained was a grave miscarriage of justice. His long-anticipated release seemed imminent on Wednesday when a circuit judge ruled in his favor, overturning his conviction and ordering his release. This pivotal moment, however, was abruptly halted when the Missouri Supreme Court granted a stay requested by the Attorney General, thus temporarily reversing the judge’s decision.

Legal Battle and Recent Developments

The ongoing legal struggle to secure Dunn’s release highlights a troubling trend in Missouri’s justice system. This situation is the second instance in recent weeks where Missouri’s Republican Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, has contested a court order intended to free a wrongfully convicted individual. In a similar case last month, Sandra Hemme, the longest-incarcerated wrongfully convicted woman in the United States, had her conviction overturned only to face delays in her release due to Bailey’s appeal. Hemme was ultimately freed on July 19, after a judge threatened to hold the Attorney General’s office in contempt of court.

Christopher Dunn, now 52, was only 18 years old when he was accused of the fatal shooting of Ricco Rogers, a 15-year-old, on the evening of May 18, 1990. Despite the absence of any physical evidence linking him to the crime, Dunn was convicted of first-degree murder. The case heavily relied on the testimony of two young witnesses—ages 12 and 14 at the time—who later recanted their statements. They claimed their original testimonies had been coerced by law enforcement and prosecutors.

On Monday, St. Louis Circuit Judge Jason Sengheiser overturned Dunn’s conviction in response to a motion filed by St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore in February. The motion sought to vacate the guilty verdict due to the recantations and other issues related to the case. Sengheiser’s ruling ordered Dunn’s immediate release from custody, specifying that he should be freed by 6 p.m. Wednesday. However, this order was blocked when Attorney General Bailey filed for an emergency stay, which the Missouri Supreme Court granted.

Supreme Court Intervention and Continuing Legal Proceedings

The Supreme Court’s intervention has led to further delays in Dunn’s release. According to the court’s order, Judge Sengheiser has until 5 p.m. Friday to file a response opposing Bailey’s motion for the stay, while Bailey has until 5 p.m. Monday to provide a reply. Dunn’s attorney, Justin Bonus, is actively working to address the Attorney General’s motion.

In a statement to NBC News, Bonus expressed his frustration with the ongoing legal battles. “Christopher Dunn has been found innocent by two separate judges after both judges heard the evidence before them,” Bonus stated. “He remains in prison, an innocent man, with his conviction overturned. This is a travesty of justice.”

Bonus criticized the Attorney General’s actions, emphasizing that the role of the Attorney General should be to seek justice rather than to fight to uphold a wrongful conviction. “The AG should not be fighting Judge Sengheiser’s decision. Their job is not to fight to uphold convictions, but to seek justice. That is not what is happening here,” Bonus added.

The Midwest Innocence Project, an organization instrumental in advocating for Dunn’s and Hemme’s releases, expressed its disappointment on social media platform X. “Chris’ legal team hoped and expected him to be released this evening. But at the Attorney General’s request, and less than an hour before Chris’ scheduled release, the Missouri Supreme Court stayed the order to release Chris, and requested additional briefing.”

The organization further lamented, “Tragically, Chris will remain in custody at the South Central Correctional Facility as his legal team continues to work to secure his release.”

Family Reactions and Broader Implications

The delay in Dunn’s release has been profoundly upsetting for his family. “We are devastated and so confused as to why the Missouri Supreme entertained the Attorney General’s improper intrusion into a matter already settled by a judge,” said Dunn’s wife, Kira Dunn, in a statement to NBC affiliate KSDK of St. Louis. “Chris was literally a few steps away from freedom when the call came. This is unimaginably cruel treatment of a proven innocent person. It is torture. It is pointless. It is a perversion of what justice should be in Missouri.”

Dunn’s extended incarceration and the current legal hurdles underscore the significant and often unjust obstacles faced by individuals seeking to overturn wrongful convictions. The case has brought to light broader issues within the justice system, particularly regarding the challenges of rectifying wrongful convictions and the roles played by various stakeholders in the legal process.

Conclusion

Christopher Dunn’s continued imprisonment, despite a judicial determination of his innocence, reflects a deeply troubling aspect of the justice system. As the legal proceedings unfold, Dunn’s case serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities involved in addressing wrongful convictions and underscores the critical need for a fair and responsive judicial process. The ongoing efforts to secure Dunn’s release highlight the importance of justice and accountability, and the support from advocacy groups and family members remains crucial in the fight for Dunn’s long-awaited freedom.