CNN —After nearly 47 years, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals this week exonerated Kerry Max Cook for the 1977 murder of Linda Jo Edwards, declaring him innocent of a crime for which he spent nearly 20 years on death row.
Cook was accused of the 1977 rape, murder and mutilation of 21-year-old Edwards in Tyler, Texas.
A third trial in 1994 ended with a new conviction and death sentence.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the second verdict in 1996, stating misconduct by police and prosecutors.
Before a fourth trial in 1999, the state offered Cook a “no contest” plea deal for murder.
Persons:
Kerry Max Cook, Linda Jo Edwards, Bert Richardson, Cook, uncontroverted Brady, Edwards, Paula Rudolph, ” Cook, Appeals, Edward Scott Jackson, Cook’s, “, ” Jackson, Kerry Cook, “ Kerry, Glenn Garber, ” Garber, ”, Jacob Putman
Organizations:
CNN, Texas, Exoneration, ” CNN
Locations:
Texas, Tyler , Texas, Smith, Tyler, Smith County