MEMPHIS, Tenn. – As millions of Americans prepare to celebrate independence and freedom this Fourth of July, Andrew Hayes remains locked behind prison walls, waiting for something he said has been denied to him for nearly two decades: justice.
Nineteen years after beginning a prison sentence for a murder prosecutors now believe he did not commit, Hayes is still fighting for his freedom. And despite a growing mountain of evidence supporting his innocence — including a confession from a woman tied to the killing — his case remains trapped in legal limbo.
The question haunting supporters, attorneys, and even the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office is simple:…