10 People Who Were Probably Wrongly Executed

4. Jesse Tafero

Jesse Tafero was accused of murdering patrol officer Philip Black and Donald Irwin on 20 February 1976. Black and Irwin were conducting a routine roadside check and noticed a gun lying on the floor of Tafero's car. Tafero was travelling with Sonia Jacobs, their two children and Walter Rhodes. Rhodes claimed that Tafero shot Black and Irwin, while Tafero said that it was Rhodes.

Gunpowder tests proved that Rhodes carried residue on his fingers consistent "with having discharged a weapon€ whereas Tafero did not. Rhodes entered into a plea agreement for a reduced sentence for his testimony against Tafero and Jacobs, who were both sentenced to death. Rhodes was given three life sentences. After Tafero was executed, Rhodes confessed to shooting Philip Black and Donald Irwin, but remarkably was not given any further punishment.

Sonia Jacobs' death sentence was overturned and she was released from prison in 1992, 17 years after she was arrested.