After 2 decades in prison, a murder charge dismissed
Less than one month after Angel Echavarria was released from prison, a place he had called home for 21 years, the Essex County District Attorney has dismissed the murder charges against him.
“Given the lapse in time, our inability to locate witnesses and the lack of forensic evidence not affected by time, it is not feasible to re-try the case at this time,’’ District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said in a statement.
Echavarria served 21 years of a life sentence for the 1994 killing of Daniel Rodriguez in Lynn. In May, a judge vacated his sentence, citing ineffective counsel.
“I never gave up,’’ Echavarria told reporters. “When you’re innocent you keep your hope.’’
Echavarria and a co-defendant were both found guilty by a jury, but the co-defendant’s conviction was immediately thrown out by a judge who cited a lack of evidence.
Echavarria was ordered to wear a GPS device and remain within the state until Blodgett’s office made a final decision.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the victim, Daniel Rodriguez, and incorrectly stated an account from the victim’s brother was about Echavarria. We regret this error.
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