City council members in Atlanta, Georgia, are considering a $1.5 million settlement for a man who was wrongfully arrested and jailed for nearly 14 months for a crime he did not commit.
Keith Sylvester was falsely accused of strangling and murdering his mother and stepfather, along with setting their house on fire. In March 2020, all charges against him were dropped, and he was released.
Sylvester, who has consistently professed his innocence, was eventually vindicated when evidence implicated another suspect, Cornelius Muckle, as the true assailant.
Muckle’s cellphone was tracked to the crime scene, and he was later arrested for the murders. Sylvester, despite his ordeal, had actively assisted law enforcement in identifying the actual culprit, proving his innocence.
The Atlanta Public Safety Committee is now recommending the $1.5 million settlement for Sylvester, underscoring the need for justice and accountability in wrongful arrest cases.