On Wednesday, October 12, 2005, fifty-seven (57) year old Clarence David Hill became a free man after spending more than 15 years on Arizona’s Death Row.

In June, 1989 the body of Dale Arnold Edmonson was discovered in the nearby desert of Bullhead City, Arizona. Authorities focused their investigation on Mr. Hill, the victim’s tenant and friend, supported only by tenuous circumstantial evidence. Despite Mr. Hill’s steadfast claims of innocence, authorities charged Mr. Hill with first degree murder.

The authorities alleged that Mr. Hill beat the victim in his own kitchen, wrapped him in a bed sheet, loaded him in the back of a pick-up truck, and drove him out to the desert, where Mr. Hill allegedly carried the victim’s body some distance and then set it on fire. In support of its theory, authorities collected what appeared to be blood evidence from the victim’s kitchen floor, Mr. Hill’s bed sheet, and Mr. Hill’s clothing.

Mr. Hill was convicted and sentenced to death in 1990. In April, 2005, Mohave County Superior Court Judge Richard Weiss granted Mr. Hill a new trial on the basis of newly-discovered DNA evidence which totally contradicted the government’s theory of the crime. While DNA testing established the victim’s blood was present on his kitchen floor, there was no evidence of such blood on the bed sheet and Mr. Hill’s clothing. Simply put, Mr. Hill could not have committed the crime as alleged by the government.

The government challenged Judge Weiss’ ruling but failed. In September, 2005 the Arizona Supreme Court rejected the government’s arguments and made way for a new trial.

Mr. Hill has been diagnosed with Scleroderma, Pulmonary Fibrosis, and Pulmonary Hypertension. An Arizona Department of Corrections doctor opined that he would be ‘mildly surprised’ if Mr. Hill lives another year. In light of Mr. Hill’s poor health, he entered a no contest plea to second degree murder and received credit for time served. Mr. Hill was released from custody on October 12, 2005, a free man after more than 16 years of incarceration. Mr. Hill plans to relocate to California, where he can enjoy the comfort and love of his sisters.