Jefferson City prisoner fighting for freedom loses court battle

A judge in Jefferson City refused to grant the freedom of a man convicted for sexually attacking and killing a St. Louis woman more than three decades ago, despite a complete reversal in key eye-witness testimony.

Attorneys for the Midwest Innocence Project said Friday they were disappointed.

Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green on Thursday ruled there was not enough evidence to back Rodney Lincoln’s claim of innocence in the death of 35-year-old JoAnn Tate. She was killed in her home in 1982. Her two young daughters were also assaulted.

One of Tate’s daughters, Melissa DeBoer, now says she was wrong to implicate him in the crime. Read the full story from the recent hearing in Jefferson City, including reaction from DeBoer and Lincoln, here.

Lawyers for Lincoln argued trial testimony indicating a hair found at the scene belonged to Lincoln was proven wrong by genetic testing.

The Missouri Attorney General’s office declined comment.