Louisiana man freed after 34 years in prison as court cites hidden evidence and false testimony

LOUISIANA — Keith Ezidore is free after spending more than 34 years in prison for a murder he has always denied committing. He walked out of the St. James Parish Jail on May 12, 2026, at age 73.

With the help of the Innocence & Justice Louisiana, a long legal fight exposed hidden evidence and false testimony leading to Ezidore’s freedom.

How Keith Ezidore Was Convicted

A jury convicted Ezidore in 1993 and sentenced him to life for a 1991 killing. Prosecutors relied heavily on a teenage witness who was approached about the unsolved murder on the same day he was due to be sentenced in his own juvenile case.

The teen gave several conflicting accounts before accusing Ezidore of committing the crime and asking him to act as a lookout. He avoided custody after giving that statement.

According to Innocence & Justice Louisiana, the witness has since repeatedly said he lied to avoid punishment in his own cases.

Withheld Records Surface Decades Later

Ezidore maintained his innocence for decades. During post‑conviction investigation, Innocence & Justice Louisiana uncovered hundreds of pages of police and prosecution records that the defense never received at trial.

Those documents showed undisclosed incentives, benefits and unusual assistance provided to the teen witness in connection with his testimony, according to the organization.

On July 16, 2025, the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal overturned Ezidore’s conviction. The court ruled that prosecutors violated his constitutional rights by suppressing evidence favorable to the defense. Judges later unanimously rejected the state’s request for rehearing.

State Continued to Pursue a Retrial

Even after the conviction was vacated, Ezidore remained in custody while the Attorney General’s Office moved to retry him. That decision triggered months of litigation over whether he should receive bail.

A district judge set bail at $1 million after a two‑day hearing in February 2026.

Per Innocence & Justice Louisiana, the group challenged the amount. On April 28, 2026, the Louisiana Supreme Court ordered bail capped at $100,000.

Ezidore posted bail on May 12, ending more than 34 years of imprisonment.

GoFundMe Noted Imprisonment Left Ezidore in Fragile Health

Ezidore entered prison as a healthy man in his 30s. He now lives with degenerative conditions that affect his spine, joints, mobility, vision and overall health. He cannot walk without assistance and relies on a rollator for support per the GoFundMe created by his family.

The fundraiser also notes that he is staying with family but has no assets and significant medical needs.

According to the GoFundMe campaign, donations will help Ezidore cover medical care, mobility equipment, daily essentials and long‑term stability.