An Oklahoma man who lost almost five decades of his life to a wrongful conviction has died just three years after finally walking free.
Glynn Simmons, 72, died from cancer, his attorney Joseph Norwood confirmed on Wednesday.
Simmons was convicted in connection with a 1975 murder near Oklahoma City and endured 48 years in prison before his conviction was overturned in 2023.
He was subsequently declared innocent, making history as the longest-serving wrongfully convicted person to be exonerated in US history.
But after decades fighting to prove his innocence, Simmons had little time to enjoy his freedom before facing another devastating battle, this time with colon cancer.
Norwood, who represented Simmons in his fight for justice, paid tribute to his determination and courage.
‘Glynn Simmons was a fighter,’ he said. ‘When he came to me to represent him, he was fighting for his life. I watched him fight for himself, and I fought alongside him, intensely and for a very long time.’
‘Once we got him out, he was immediately faced with another fight, his cancer, which ultimately took him. He fought it to the end.’
Glynn Simmons, an Oklahoma man who was wrongfully convicted and spent nearly five decades behind bars before being exonerated in 2023, died on Wednesday from colon cancer
Simmonds was convicted over a 1975 Oklahoma area murder and spent 48 years in prison before his conviction was overturned when prosecutors acknowledged the evidence did not establish guilt
He was declared innocent in 2023, becoming the longest serving wrongfully convicted person to be exonerated in US history
Norwood added that Simmons never gave up during their long struggle to secure his freedom.
‘That is what I will remember about Glynn. He didn’t give up. He fought.’
He said he was proud to have helped Simmons reclaim the years of freedom he had left, adding that his thoughts were with the man’s family and friends.
Despite spending almost half a century behind bars for a crime he did not commit, Simmons refused to let his ordeal destroy his faith in humanity, according to his family.
In a statement shared by Pastor Derrick Scobey of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, his loved ones revealed that Simmons chose to remain in Oklahoma after his release rather than start a new life elsewhere.
‘He said he wanted to build a legacy here, and he never forgot the many Oklahomans who showed him kindness, even after all that had happened to him.’
They described Simmons as a man who continued to show gratitude despite the injustice he had suffered.
‘Through it all, Glynn carried an attitude of gratitude. He looked for the best in people, and he believed the best about them. He never let bitterness have the last word.’
His family said he chose to remain in Oklahoma after his release, determined to build a legacy and remember those who showed him kindness
His family also revealed that Simmons accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior on Sunday, October 25, just days before his death.
They thanked the public for its prayers and support and requested privacy as they mourn. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
Simmons was convicted in connection with a 1975 Oklahoma City murder. One woman was wounded and survived, Carolyn Sue Rogers was killed.
Simmons was convicted of the crime when he was not in the state of Oklahoma at the time.
After decades behind bars, his legal fight culminated in his release in 2023, when his conviction was overturned and he was declared innocent.
Following his exoneration, he filed a federal civil rights lawsuit over his wrongful conviction and reached a partial $7.15 million settlement.
Although the settlement offered financial compensation, it could never restore the years Simmons had lost in prison.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Norwood for comment.
