28 Facts About Clarence Elkins

Clarence Elkins was convicted solely on the basis of the testimony of his wife's six-year-old niece who testified that Elkins was the perpetrator.

Brooke later voiced doubts about her identification, claiming that in her initial statement when she said "He looked like uncle Clarence", she simply meant that he reminded her of Elkins as opposed to being a positive identification and that she only identified him in her testimony at the urging of Summit County Prosecutor Maureen O'Connor and the main courtroom prosecutor, Michael Carroll.

Brooke recanted her statement and Elkins appealed on that basis, but his appeal was denied.

Clarence Elkins collected a cigarette end from Mann, who was serving time at the same prison, and provided it to his defense attorney for testing.

Clarence Elkins was featured on Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen in 2017.

The police interpreted this to mean Clarence Elkins himself was the attacker.

At trial, the prosecution theorized that Clarence Elkins killed his mother-in-law due to frustration because she was meddling in his then-contentious marriage to her daughter, Melinda.

Clarence Elkins testified that she saw Clarence return home, and knew he remained there, as she was awake most of the night caring for a sick child.

Clarence Elkins' case was first overseen by Judge Beth Whitmore, then tried under Judge John Adams in Akron, Ohio.

Clarence Elkins appealed his conviction with this new evidence, but it was denied as the judge believed Brooke had been coached by relatives after the reconciliation.

Clarence Elkins appealed the conviction again on the basis of the new DNA evidence.

Coincidentally, Mann was serving his time at Mansfield Correctional facility, the same facility where Clarence Elkins was serving his sentence.

Clarence Elkins sent the cigarette to his attorney who sent it to a laboratory for testing.

Clarence Elkins had an extensive criminal record for crimes ranging from a racially motivated assault on another man to robberies.

Clarence Elkins had three children with Tonia Brasiel, who lived next door to Judith Johnson.

Furthermore, Brasiel testified at Elkins's trial that the child had told her that Clarence was the perpetrator.

Clarence Elkins similarly discovered that she was not interested in reviewing the case.

On December 15,2005, the charges against Clarence Elkins were dismissed, and he was released from prison.

Clarence Elkins settled with the state of Ohio for US$1.075 million.

Clarence Elkins later filed a civil suit against the Barberton police for failing to disclose the incriminating statement by Earl Mann during his 1999 arrest.

Clarence Elkins later settled with the Barberton police for $5.25 million.

Clarence Elkins was sentenced to a minimum of 55 years in prison, meaning he will not be eligible for parole until age 90 or 91.

Melinda Clarence Elkins Dawson was instrumental in getting Ohio to pass Senate Bill 262, known as Post Conviction DNA Law.

Clarence Elkins was instrumental in getting Ohio to pass Senate Bill 77, known as Ohio's Innocence Protection Act.

Clarence Elkins spent much time advocating for what has been termed the "national model" of innocence reform bills, and the "most important piece of criminal justice legislation in Ohio in a century".

Clarence Elkins engages in public speaking about his case and wrongful convictions in general at universities and other locations across the United States.

Clarence Elkins said that her and her parents' relationship with her aunt and ex-uncle are irreparable, despite Clarence's innocence and Mann's conviction.

Clarence Elkins case was covered in the "All Butt Certain" episode of Forensic Files.