ST. LOUIS, MO (July 22, 2024) — St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Jason M. Sengheiser today vacated the murder conviction of Christopher Dunn, 52, for the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers on the night of May 18, 1990, in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. 

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore filed a motion with the court on Feb. 7, 2024, seeking to vacate Dunn’s conviction based on the recantations of the two eyewitnesses. Dunn received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and consecutive sentences of 90 years for first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He was incarcerated for 34 years.

“This is a great day for Christopher Dunn and a great day for justice,” Gore said. “We are grateful to Judge Sengheiser, to Special Assistant Circuit Attorney Booker Shaw and the legal team at Thompson Coburn LLP, and to the Midwest Innocence Project for their tireless efforts to prove Mr. Dunn’s innocence and secure his release.”

Over two days of hearings, Judge Sengheiser heard evidence presented at Dunn’s original trial, additional evidence presented in Dunn’s direct appeals and post-conviction proceedings, and additional information and evidence presented by Gore and Shaw. Evidence opposing Dunn’s release was presented by the Missouri Attorney General’s office. 

The case against Dunn rested solely on the testimony of two eyewitnesses – a 12-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy – both of whom later recanted. Gore argued in his motion that the eyewitness recantations alone were enough to show clear and convincing evidence of Dunn’s actual innocence.

Dunn is the third person to be exonerated in Missouri since a 2021 law was passed allowing prosecutors to seek the exoneration of individuals sentenced to life without parole. Previously, the law only allowed prosecutors to seek to overturn convictions in death penalty cases. 

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