Missouri Supreme Court Delays Release of Man with Overturned Murder Conviction

In a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday, the Missouri Supreme Court intervened to halt the release of Christopher Dunn, a man whose murder conviction was recently overturned. Just as Dunn was set to walk free from prison, the court’s ruling put his release on hold, adding to the legal and emotional turmoil surrounding his case.

Christopher Dunn, 52, had been poised for release following a St. Louis Circuit Court judge’s order that mandated his freedom by 6 p.m. CDT. The judge, Jason Sengheiser, had overturned Dunn’s conviction on Monday, citing compelling evidence of his "actual innocence" in the 1990 murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers. Dunn's immediate release had been ordered, but the Missouri Attorney General’s office, led by Republican Andrew Bailey, contested the decision, resulting in a legal standoff.

As the deadline approached, corrections officials were in a state of confusion. According to Karen Pojmann, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections, Dunn was out of the prison facility and signing paperwork when the Supreme Court issued its halt. Dunn’s wife, Kira, was en route to pick him up when the news broke, leaving them both in shock.

The legal battle intensified on Wednesday when St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore filed a motion urging the judge to enforce Dunn's release immediately. Gore criticized the Attorney General’s attempt to bypass the court’s order, arguing that such actions undermine the judicial process. Despite this, the Department of Corrections, advised by Bailey's office, refused to release Dunn until the appeal process is resolved.

Dunn’s attorney, Tricia Rojo Bushnell of the Midwest Innocence Project, expressed frustration at the continued detention of her client. “What is this bringing to taxpayers in Missouri? What is this use of our resources and our state’s time getting us? All it’s doing is keeping innocent people in prison,” she said.

Dunn's case echoes the recent experience of Sandra Hemme, who was imprisoned for 43 years before her conviction was overturned in June. Hemme's release was similarly delayed by the Attorney General’s office, causing significant legal and public frustration.

Dunn was convicted based on the testimony of two boys who later recanted, claiming they had been coerced. A 2020 evidentiary hearing suggested that new evidence could lead to a not guilty verdict, but a 2016 Missouri Supreme Court ruling limited such claims to death row inmates, complicating Dunn’s exoneration.

As Missouri’s Attorney General Andrew Bailey faces a competitive primary election on August 6, political motivations may be influencing his stance. Critics, including former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Wolff, argue that adherence to court orders should take precedence over political considerations.

The case continues to develop, with Dunn's future hanging in the balance as legal battles persist and political pressures mount.

Updated to correct the release deadline to 6 p.m. CDT and to note that Dunn was represented by the Midwest Innocence Project.