# Convicted of mass murder but later exhonorated? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 22, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convicted-of-mass-murder-but-later-exhonorated/332347 "2005-11-22T23:42:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convicted-of-mass-murder-but-later-exhonorated/332347/1 "2005-11-22T23:42:38Z")
There are a number of threads at the moment about murderers, the death penalty, and being later found innocent. Has there been anyone who was convicted of being a mass murderer who was later exhonorated? We’ll allow the definition of ‘mass’ to vary as you see fit. References: > **[What person has verifiably killed the most other people?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=346039)** > > I had a devil of a time coming up with a title. Anyway, I was just wondering…does anyone happen to know what person has, with reasonable verification, personally killed the most other humans? The rules? •Although projectile weapons count, I’m... > **[Death Penalty and Irreperable Harm](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=346122)** > > In this thread, the case of a Texas man who was executed is being discussed. In the case, one of the witnesses has come forward and recanted his testimony, leading the authorities to question whether or not the case should have been brought in the... > **[Executed man found innocent. Just wonderful.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=346110)** > > I am so sickened by this. This is why I’ve always been against the fucking death penalty. The hairs on my neck are standing on end. The witness recants. Motherfucker I hope he’s tried for murder. ... ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convicted-of-mass-murder-but-later-exhonorated/332347/2 "2005-11-23T00:09:42Z")
Henry Lee Lucas was convicted of 11 murders and sentenced to death in Texas for the murder of a woman identified only as “Orange Socks.” He confessed to hundreds of other murders and later recanted all of his confessions. It was eventually determined that there was little or no evidence tying him to the Orange Socks murder. His sentence was commuted to life in prison and he died there. Not quite what the OP is asking but close enough and IMHO an interesting example. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convicted-of-mass-murder-but-later-exhonorated/332347/3 "2005-11-23T00:44:12Z")
The [Birmingham Six](http://www.innocent.org.uk/cases/birmingham6/) were convicted of murdering 21 people in a single explosion. They were found to be innocent 16 years later. ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convicted-of-mass-murder-but-later-exhonorated/332347/4 "2005-11-23T04:56:23Z")
[David Hendricks](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312929080/102-3458466-3540910?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance) ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convicted-of-mass-murder-but-later-exhonorated/332347/5 "2005-11-23T06:41:45Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Henry Lee Lucas was convicted of 11 murders and sentenced to death in Texas for the murder of a woman identified only as “Orange Socks.” He confessed to hundreds of other murders and later recanted all of his confessions. It was eventually determined that there was little or no evidence tying him to the Orange Socks murder. His sentence was commuted to life in prison and he died there. > > Not quite what the OP is asking but close enough and IMHO an interesting example. But I believe there is still evidence that he _was_ actually involved with a couple murders, if not the hundreds he originally claimed. IIRC, the guy who hosts “America’s Most Wanted” believes that Lucas and his parter in crime Otis Toole were the ones who killed his son Adam (kid with the baseball bat, in the famous picture). ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convicted-of-mass-murder-but-later-exhonorated/332347/6 "2005-11-23T11:03:05Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > But I believe there is still evidence that he _was_ actually involved with a couple murders, if not the hundreds he originally claimed. IIRC, the guy who hosts “America’s Most Wanted” believes that Lucas and his parter in crime Otis Toole were the ones who killed his son Adam (kid with the baseball bat, in the famous picture). I think there’s no dispute that Lucas killed (IIRC) his Mom, the Christian shelter lady who took him & his girlfriend in, and his girlfriend. Also, I thought I read in a John Walsh book that Otis Toole finally admitted to killing Adam before he died in prison, but that he was acting alone.