Darryl Burton, Wrongly Convicted of Capital Murder, to Speak in Dubuque
Oct 24, 2018 | University Relations
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Darryl Burton, who was wrongly convicted of capital murder over 30 years ago, will speak at two events in Dubuque this month. Both lectures are free and open to the public.
The first lecture will be held at Loras College on Monday, Oct. 29, at 7:00 p.m. in the Alumni Campus Center as part of the Father Ray Herman Peacemaker Lecture Series.
The second presentation will be held at University of Dubuque on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 7:00 p.m. in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center, as part of UD’s pre-law program.
In 1985, Burton, at age 22, was sentenced to life in prison of the killing of a man in St. Louis, Missouri.
“When I heard the jurors say guilty, I felt shock and disbelief. I just didn’t think, in America, an innocent man could be sent to prison, especially capital murder,” Burton said.
While in prison, Burton discovered that anger and hate can be another prison. He said he allowed Christ into his life and, 10 years before his exoneration, Burton felt emotionally and spiritually freed. With the help of Centurion Ministries, Burton was exonerated after serving 24 years in prison. A judge ruled that Burton’s trial was flawed. The conviction was based on the testimony of two men, one who changed his story and the other who had more felony convictions than the jury was informed.
Since 2009, Burton has spoken about forgiveness, redemption, and hope at churches, conferences, and lectures around the globe. He is an associate pastor at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, where he facilitates a weekly class called “Hope and Forgiveness.” Burton recently founded Miracle of Innocence, a non-profit to help the wrongly convicted.
Burton’s visit is supported by the Dubuque County Bar Association, Loras, UD Student Government Association, Wendt Character Initiative, and Todd Klapatauskas, a Dubuque trial lawyer.
