Minnesota Man Freed After 16 Years as Murder Conviction Overturned

Edgar Barrientos-Quintana's release follows a report revealing investigative failings and withheld evidence.

Edgar Barrientos-Quintana was convicted in 2009 for the murder of Jesse Mickelson but has been exonerated after a review found critical evidence was not presented at trial.
The Minnesota Attorney General's Conviction Review Unit identified issues with police procedures, including coercive tactics and misleading photographic evidence.
Security footage and phone records supported Barrientos-Quintana's alibi, contradicting the prosecution's timeline of the crime.
Judge John McBride vacated the conviction, citing ineffective defense representation and prosecutorial failures to disclose exculpatory evidence.
The family of Jesse Mickelson, including his sisters, expressed support for Barrientos-Quintana's release, acknowledging the miscarriage of justice.