A Minnesota man wrongly convicted of murder was released Thursday after a woman who falsely implicated him confessed to the crime. This follows the vacating of Bryan Hooper Sr.’s conviction by a court on September 4, 2025.
- Bryan Hooper Sr. released after 30 years wrongful conviction
- Conviction vacated due to false evidence and recanting witnesses
- Confessed killer woman in prison, to be released in four years
- Case to be reopened for further investigation by police
- Hooper plans to reunite with family and settle in Twin Cities
Hooper spent nearly 27 years in prison for a 1998 murder he did not commit. His conviction was based largely on a woman’s false testimony, which she later admitted to. The court vacated his conviction on September 4, and he was released from Stillwater Correctional Facility on September 5, 2025. Hooper plans to reunite with his children and settle in the Twin Cities area. The case will now be reopened for further investigation.
- The woman who falsely accused Hooper confessed to the murder and is in prison in Georgia, with release in four years.
- Key witnesses who implicated Hooper, including jailhouse informants, recanted their testimonies long ago.
- The court found Hooper’s conviction was tainted by false evidence, which could have influenced the jury.
- The case will now return to police for further investigation into the true murderer.
This case highlights the importance of revisiting wrongful convictions and the role of new evidence in justice. It also underscores ongoing issues with false testimony in criminal cases.
Hooper’s release marks a significant step toward correcting past mistakes. Authorities will now focus on finding the real perpetrator of the 1998 murder.
