A Bronx man, who was freed from wrongful incarceration after about 23 years in prison, has passed away this past weekend before his $124 million lawsuit against the state.
The 55-years old William Lopez is reported to have suffered a fatal heart attack on Saturday. Reports indicate that he had a press conference scheduled on Monday about his upcoming trial, which was set to commence on Tuesday. There are no indications of foul play in his death.
Jeffrey Deskovic, the founder of the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice, which helped secure the release of Lopez in 2013, has described the death of his client as 'shocking' and 'untimely.'
In 1989, Lopez was sentenced to imprisonment for the murder of Elvirn Suria, a suspected drug dealer. Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis, who ruled for the suspect to be released last year, described the prosecution's evidence against Lopez as 'flimsy.'
Lopez, who told the press that "It feels great to be back on Earth" after his release from prison, is reported to have been successfully attempting to rebuild his life with the assistance of friends before his unexpected death.
Reports indicate that Lopez was upbeat about his chances of coming off victorious in his case against the state. According to his friend and lawyer Deskovic, who noted that Lopez had his life robbed from him, the deceased ex-con had intended to complete his education in a Law School, travel around the country and set up a family business with the money he hoped to win from the state.
He leaves behind his wife, Alice, whom he married while in prison, and his daughter, Crystal, who was only 14 months old when he was unjustly sentenced.
