Ryan Matthews

After more than seven years on Louisiana's death row, Ryan Matthews has been exonerated. Today, a hearing was held that officially dropped the charges against Matthews. Matthews was on death row for the 1997 robbery and murder of Tommy Vanhoose. Matthews has always maintained his innocence and says he never gave up hope. DNA evidence ultimately vindicated Matthews when hair from a ski mask thrown from the getaway car was matched to that of another Louisiana inmate, Rondell Love. There have also been reports that Love has bragged about killing Vanhoose.

DNA evidence frees La. death row inmate