A Kentucky man who spent over two decades in prison for a “satanic killing” he did not commit has been awarded $24.35 million, marking a record compensation for wrongful conviction cases. Jeffrey Clark, who was incarcerated for 22 and a half years, accused law enforcement officers and a former coroner of conspiring to secure his wrongful imprisonment. His legal team announced the substantial payout, which includes $75,000 in damages, last Wednesday.
“It’s as if I’m finally waking up from a 34-year nightmare,” Clark expressed after winning his civil case.
Clark and his friend, Keith Hardin, were convicted in 1995 for the murder of 19-year-old Rhonda Sue Warford, who was dating Hardin at the time. Warford was discovered dead in a field, having suffered multiple stab wounds, after leaving her home in Louisville shortly after midnight on April 2, 1992.
Authorities focused their investigation on Hardin and Clark, both 21 at the time, following claims from Warford’s mother that her daughter had friends involved in Satanism. These allegations are part of what Clark’s defense, supported by the Innocence Project, argues led to his wrongful conviction.
Warford was found dead in a field and covered in stab wounds after she left her Louisville home just after midnight on April 2, 1992.
Cops honed in on Hardin and Clark â who were just 21 at the time â after Warford’s mother claimed she had pals linked to Satanism, according to the Innocence Project.
Clark was arrested despite telling cops he had not seen Warford since December 1991. Police had claimed they found a fingerprint belonging to Warford in his car.
Investigators seized evidence from Hardin’s home, including a blood-soaked cloth and broken glass. Prosecutors alleged the glass was a âchaliceâ from which Hardin drank the blood of animals.
Prosecutors rigorously tried to link Clark to the satanic killing.
During the trial, Clarkâs ex-girlfriend, Amy Remsberg, claimed her former flame was involved in satanic practices â and that he had an inverted cross tattoo on his shoulder.
She also claimed he had taken her to a site where several animal sacrifices had supposedly been made.
Clark showed the jury he had no such markings on his arms, while an ex-co-worker claimed he had previously spoken about animal sacrifices at church.
An inmate claimed Clark confessed to him after being arrested â even though he strongly denied any involvement in the crime.
Hardin and Clark were convicted after prosecutors claimed a hair on her body matched Hardin â which later turned out to be false after DNA testing. Their convictions were overturned in 2016.
In a lawsuit, Clark alleged that ex-Meade County Sheriff Joseph Greer and former coroner Bill Adams manipulated Warfordâs date of death.
Adams used white-out to change the date of Warford’s death to April 2 to bypass Clark’s alibi, even though medical examiners suggested Warford likely died between April 4 and 5.
âDefendants framed Jeff for a crime he didnât commit when he was just a young kid,â Clarkâs attorney Elliot Slosar said.
âJeff lost his life and wasnât set free until he was in his mid-40s.â
However, Warford’s killer remains at large.
âNo amount of money can atone for the catastrophic consequences on Jeffâs life, or the injustice done to Rhonda and her family,â lawyer Amy Staples said.
With Post wires
