Wife never stopped believing in husband who was wrongfully convicted

Charmaine Willis says she never stopped believing in her husband Karl.

He was convicted and imprisoned in the 1998 murder of 13-year-old Maurice Purifie more than two decades ago. Karl Willis along with his co-defendent Wayne Braddy, Jr. both maintained their innocence.

Both served 23 years before gaining their freedom in 2023 thanks to lawyers at the Ohio Innocence Project at UC Law. Their cases were moved to a federal appeals court. Talks between OIP lawyers and the prosecutors led to a deal termed by both sides as “in the interest of justice” through which Braddy and Willis would offer an Alford plea to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery.

An Alford plea is defined as a defendant formally pleading guilty to a charge while simultaneously expressing their innocence in relation to the charge.

Charmaine Willis had been with Karl about a year before his imprisonment. They married once he was released from prison.  “If you love somebody, you stand beside him no matter what they’re going through,” she says.

Charmine and Karl Willis shared their story on MSN.

“That’s my best friend,” adds Karl Willis, referring to his wife. “That’s my angel. That’s my better half. That’s my partner. That’s somebody I can trust. That’s somebody I believe in.”

Founded in 2003, the Ohio Innocence Project is continuing its initial purpose: working for free every person in Ohio convicted of a crime they didn’t commit. So far, OIP has exonerated 43 people who served collectively more than 800 years behind bars for crimes they didn't commit.

Learn more about the case of Karl Willis online.

Read his story on MSN.

Featured top image showing OIP supporters, Wayne Braddy Jr. (third from left) and Karl Willis (fifth from left). Photo provided.