City Council Considers $1.5 Million Settlement for Man Wrongfully Jailed for 14 Months
City council members in Atlanta, Georgia, are currently deliberating a $1.5 million settlement for Keith Sylvester, a man who was wrongfully arrested and jailed for nearly 14 months for a crime he did not commit.
Sylvester was arrested in December 2018 on accusations of strangling and murdering his mother and stepfather, as well as setting their house on fire six months prior. However, all charges against him were dropped, and he was released from custody in March 2020 after authorities determined he was innocent.
Throughout the ordeal, Sylvester maintained his innocence, stating, “I am innocent and had nothing to do with my mother and stepfather’s death.” Evidence later revealed another suspect, Cornelius Muckle, as the actual assailant. Muckle’s cellphone was traced to the crime scene, and he was later booked into jail in 2020.
Sylvester, who had actively tried to help law enforcement locate the real suspect in the days following the murders, expressed his frustration, saying his mugshot “should have never been taken.”
The decision to settle Sylvester’s case now rests with the full Atlanta City Council, following approval by the Public Safety Committee. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring justice and accountability in the legal system.
