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Florida Supreme Court Vacates Death Penalty Convictions

The seven-member Florida Supreme  Court poses for a photo in the courtroom.
Florida Supreme Court
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Florida Supreme Court

The Florida Supreme Court has reversed the murder convictions of Ralph Wright Jr. Wright had been convicted of the 2007 murder of a Pinellas County woman and her son.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that there was no direct evidence tying Wright to the murders. Wright was an Air Force officer stationed in Tampa. He met Paula O’Connor and later allegedly had his son. Wright denies the child was his. O’Connor and the boy were found strangled. The court says there’s no physical evidence Wright committed the crimes.

Sarah Mueller is a journalist who has worked for media outlets in several states since 2010. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2010 and worked as a print reporter covering local government and politics.