Joseph Burrows

Joseph H. Burrows (October 5, 1953 – October 15, 2009 Burrows was released in 1994.

Chronology of events On November 8, 1988, the body of 88-year-old farmer William E. Dulan was found at his home.

Gayle Potter, a cocaine addict, was picked up for forging a cheque of Dulan's. Her blood was found at the murder scene.

In a plea bargain, Potter admitted forging the cheque and taking part in the crime, but implicated two others. She claimed that Burrows, 32, had shot the older man, and also said that Ralph Frye, 22, a friend of Burrows who had slight cognitive disabilities, was involved. Potter and Frye were both sentenced to long prison terms, but Burrows was later sentenced to death. There was no physical evidence linking either Burrows or Frye to the crime. Four witnesses placed Burrows 60 miles away at the time of the crime. Burrows appealed his conviction and death sentence, but both were upheld in 1992 by the Supreme Court of Illinois.