September 18, 2024
Media Relations Division
213-257-2000
media@da.lacounty.gov
A Freed Man and a Dog Named Freedom: LADA Highlights Exoneree Miguel Solorio Who Was Wrongly Convicted of Murder
In a new video, Miguel Solorio shares how he is rebuilding his life after serving 25 years for a crime he did not commit
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón today published a new video highlighting the case of Miguel Solorio, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. He spent 25 years in custody for a crime he did not commit.
“My office is gratified to see how Miguel Solorio is thriving after decades of wrongful incarceration for a crime he did not commit. His experience was a powerfully difficult one, and we are grateful to Miguel for sharing his story and bringing attention to the injustice of wrongful incarceration,” District Attorney Gascón said. “We honor the resilience of Miguel and his beloved wife Silvia, who worked to prove his innocence in the face of life without parole. They are an inspiration.”
Solorio was only 19 years old when he was arrested for a fatal drive-by shooting in the city of Whittier that he knew nothing about. In 2000, he was wrongfully convicted by a jury of first-degree murder and six counts of assault with a firearm based on false testimony by law enforcement and faulty eyewitness identification practices. Solorio was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. He feared dying in prison, yet he always maintained his innocence.
After a thorough investigation under District Attorney Gascón, LADA’s Conviction Integrity Unit determined that Solorio was innocent. LADA and Solorio, through Solorio’s attorney Ellen Eggers and the Northern California Innocence Project, requested that his conviction be vacated by the court. In November 2024, Solorio’s conviction was vacated by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge and he was released from prison after nearly 25 years. On December 13, 2023, the Los Angeles County Superior Court found Solorio factually innocent.
“Miguel’s exoneration illustrates the critical work of LADA’s Conviction Integrity Unit, which works tirelessly to seek justice and hold the real offenders accountable,” District Attorney Gascón added.
Since his release in 2023, Solorio has lived with his wife, Silvia Solorio, and in July 2024, at 45 years old, he celebrated his first birthday with his family in 25 years.
Since 2021, District Attorney Gascón’s Conviction Integrity Unit and Habeas Unit have exonerated 14 innocent people — some of whom were convicted as children and most who spent more than two decades in prison for crimes they did not commit — for a combined total of more than 340 years behind bars.
The video is also available for download by media here.
Miguel and Silvia Solorio
Miguel and Silvia Solorio