Jonathan Fleming cleared in Daryl Rush murder after 25 years in prison
He was at Disney World in Florida.
That was Jonathan Fleming’s alibi over 25 years ago as it as on Tuesday, when charges against the man were dropped in the Daryl ‘Black’ Rush murder case. Rush had been shot and killed in New York City Aug. 15, 1989 while Fleming was over 1,000 miles away.
Fleming, now 51, tearfully hugged his lawyers as relatives cheered, “Thank you, God!” after a judge dismissed the case.
A key witness had recanted their testimony and newly found witnesses implicated someone else and prosecutors’ review of authorities’ files turned up documents supporting Fleming’s alibi.
“After 25 years, come hug your mother,” Patricia Fleming said.
“I feel wonderful,” he said afterward. “I’ve always had faith. I knew that this day would come someday.”
Fleming had plane tickets, videos and postcards from his trip, said his lawyers and the witness says she lied about Fleming so police would release her for an unrelated arrest.
The man lost, then lost in appeals, being sentenced to 25 years in prison.
“I’m going to go eat dinner with my mother and my family, and I’m going to live the rest of my life,” Fleming said as they exited court and were surrounded by the press.