Julius Ruffin and Arthur Lee Whitfield - Julius Ruffin

Julius Ruffin

On December 6, 1981, Julius Ruffin was accused of raping, sodomizing, and robbing a woman in her home. The victim looked for a black male and identified Ruffin as her attacker, though the description did not match up (Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project). Ruffin is 6’1” (187 cm), with light skin, and two distinguishable gold teeth and facial hair. She identified her attacker as 5’8” (174 cm) with dark skin.

In June 2002, Virginia courts passed a law that allowed felons to petition the courts for DNA testing. On February 13 of the following year Ruffin, was released by DNA testing. Ruffin was pardoned by the former governor of Virginia and given $1.5 million in compensation (Innocence Project).