Martinez was wrongfully convicted of the death of an infant in 2000. His sentence was overturned by a Denver judge on April 21
NEED TO KNOW
- Stephen Martinez was wrongfully convicted of the death of baby Heather Mares in 2000, and was freed from prison in April after serving 27 years
- “This feels wonderful, amazing, just an incredible feeling to be able to leave all that steel, concrete, razored wire behind and be made righteous and come back into society with a new beginning, a new start,” Martinez tells PEOPLE exclusively
- Martinez hopes to pursue a career in the mental health field now that he is out of prison
Stephen Martinez, who was wrongfully convicted of the death of baby Heather Mares in 2000, is speaking out following his release from prison after serving nearly three decades.
Martinez of Denver was convicted of the death of baby Heather Mares in 2000, 9News and CBS News reported, citing court documents and an arrest affidavit. Martinez had called 911 on Oct. 17, 1998, telling emergency services that Heather was choking. He told authorities that he had shaken the baby as she cried and had hit her head against the crib, insisting it was an accident. He was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Denver Judge Andrew Luxen overturned the conviction amid Martinez’s work with the Korey Wise Innocence Project (KWIP), which suggested the baby had instead died from pneumonia complications…