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Man exonerated, released after spending 20 years behind bars for double murder

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A Georgia man who had been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted for a double murder is now a free man.

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Dennis Perry was released Monday after serving 20 years, six months and 10 days behind bars, WSB and Action News Jax reported.

Perry was arrested and convicted of the 1985 double murder of Harold and Thelma Swain, who were killed at the Rising Daughters Baptist Church in Waverly, Georgia.

He was convicted in 2003 after his ex-girlfriend’s mother said he had told her that he was going to kill Harold Swain.

The woman was paid $12,000 in reward money for her testimony, a fact that the prosecution didn’t disclose to the defense, WSB and Action News Jax reported.

“I was cleared by the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigations) in 1988 only to find out that I was the only suspect they focused on in 1999, all from a statement from one person that had known mental issues and was paid $12,000 for their testimony,” Perry said according to WSB.

Superior Court of Glynn County on July 17 granted Perry a new trial based on rediscovered DNA evidence.

But Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Keith Higgins decided not to go forward with the case.

On Monday, the charges against Perry were dismissed, The Associated Press reported.

A judge is also considering restricting the files so that Perry’s records are not able to be accessed by future employers and landlords.

However, the investigation looking into who killed the Swains is not over. Officials said that there is another suspect.

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