Judge overturns rape convictions after DNA re-analyzed | News

Top photo caption: Alan Northrup left and Larry Davis.

VANCOUVER, Wash. - A Clark County judge threw out the rape convictions of two men who were found guilty of attacking a woman in La Center, Wash. in 1993.

New DNA testing that was not available at the time was key to the judge’s decision to exonerate Alan Northrup and Larry Davis of the crime.

It was the moment they said they have waited 17 years to see and said was a first step toward restoring the innocence they’ve always maintained.

“Just feels good to be free,” Davis said.

In 1993 a 36-year-old housekeeper in La Center was raped. Despite being blindfolded during the attack her eyewitness identification helped convict both men.

Some DNA evidence was gathered but the technology at that time didn’t allow for the testing of such small amounts.

Three years ago, a Clark County judge agreed to have that DNA re-analyzed with new techniques.

The modern analysis found no match between the DNA collected from the victim and the two men convicted for attacking her.

“I’ve got a lot of catching up to do,” said Davis. “It’s almost like you have to get to know people again. You know, you come from one world to this one here and it’s like starting over.”

Northrup’s daughter, Kayla, said “I think I just want to get to know him again and have him get to know me and my daughter.”

A nonprofit group based out of Seattle called The Innocence Project began working on the case eight years.

Jacqui McMurtrie, a lawyer with the group, said “It’s amazing,” to be involved in the overturning of the men’s convictions. “You can’t have a better feeling as a lawyer to have the opportunity to remedy an injustice.”

Since the DNA doesn’t match either man, a key issue remains: Who does it belong to and does it mean the true attackers got away with the crime?

“Our main question is to try to determine what the source of those DNA profiles are,” said John Fairgrieve the senior deputy prosecutor in Clark County.

In the meantime a new trial is set for July as prosecutors review evidence. But for now, the men will enjoy their freedom and the things they didn’t get to do for 17 years.

Lewis said he’s going to go fishing.

Prosecutors said they are investigating other potential matches for the DNA found on the victim and are trying to determine if it was someone she knew or another man who’d been living in the house she was cleaning.

Prosecutors have already run two DNA profiles through the Washington state criminal DNA database and found no hits.