14 Years Old When He Confessed, Davontae Sanford To Be Released After Judge Vacates 2008 Quadruple Murder Conviction

DETROIT (WWJ) - A Wayne County judge has vacated the 2008 conviction and sentence of Davontae Sanford who was serving a 37-to 90-years for a quadruple murder in Detroit.

Following the ruling by Wayne County Third Circuit Court Judge Brian Sullivan on Tuesday, the Prosecutor's Office confirmed that Sanford is expected to be immediately released from custody after nearly nine years behind bars.

This latest comes after Michigan State Police had recommended murder charges be filed against an alleged hit man, Vincent "Vito" Smothers, and his partner in connection with the killings at a drug house on Runyon Street.

Sanford was 14 years old when he was arrested. He admitted to the crime and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, but his family argued the Sanford is developmentally disabled and was coerced by authorities to confess under interrogation without a parent or attorney present.

Smothers last year signed an affidavit taking responsibility for four murders, describing what happened.

"I have nothing to gain from testifying about my commission of the Runyon murders," said Smothers, who is serving 52 years in prison for killing eight other people, including the wife of a Detroit police officer.

"I only want to tell the truth in order to prevent an innocent kid from serving time for crimes that I committed," he said in the affidavit, adding that he'd like an opportunity to testify in court, providing details and drawings of the crime scene that could only be known by the person who committed the crime.

According to a news release, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has also agreed not to re-try Sanford, now 23 years old, for these crimes.

"Today, justice finally arrives for the Sanford family," said Heidi Naasko, pro bono counsel for Dykema Gossett PLLC, which represents Sanford in coordination with the Michigan Innocence Clinic, the Northwestern Center for the Wrongful Convictions of Youth and the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office.

"No one can give Davontae Sanford and his family back the nine years he has spent in jail for a crime he did not commit, but the Court's decision today corrects a grave injustice.  The entire legal team is thrilled that he will not spend another day in prison for a crime he did not commit," Naasko said.

Worthy is expected to talk about her decision and what led to Sanford's release at a news conference Thursday.