Ladbible X Whatsapp
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Man awarded $1m after spending 17 years in prison for crime committed by his doppleganger

Home> News

Published 21:44 13 Jan 2023 GMT

Man awarded $1m after spending 17 years in prison for crime committed by his doppleganger

This is why it's not always good to have a lookalike.

Emma Guinness

Emma Guinness

Most of us have probably wondered if we've got doppelgänger at some point, but after reading this story, you'll be wishing you didn't.

This is because one man was awarded $1 million in compensation after being forced to serve 17 years behind bars for a crime that his doppelgänger committed.

Seriously.

Richard Jones was falsely imprisoned in 2000 for aggravated robbery, but the mistake wasn't uncovered until years later when his victim and witnesses were shown a picture of his doppelgänger, Ricky Amos.

Advert

The men are almost completely identical.
Police Handout

The crime was committed back in 1999 at a Walmart parking lot in Roeland Park, Kansas, where a man had attempted to steal a woman's handbag.

Despite the fact that Jones had an alibi - he was with his girlfriend in Kansas City - and the lack of evidence at the scene, he was convicted.

The mistake was made when eyewitnesses identified Jones as the culprit from a series of mugshots.

Jones attempted to appeal the sentence many times, but was denied every time.

Advert

Witnesses could no longer be sure who committed the crime.
Kansas City Police Department

The Midwest Innocence Project and the University of Kansas School of Law eventually went on a mission to clear Jones' name.

And in the process, they discovered that his doppelgänger was actually residing in the same prison as him.

This led a judge to present the victim and eyewitnesses with Jones' mugshot again, and that of another inmate, Amos.

However, they were unable to tell the men apart.

Advert

There was also no physical evidence, DNA or fingerprints that ever linked him to the 1999 crime.

Although Amos went on to deny having committed the crime, he was convicted in Jones' place and his doppelgänger was finally allowed to join his family.

However, due to the stature of limitations expiring, Amos will not face prosecution for the crime.

Richard's release was secured by the non-profit.
Facebook / Midwest Innocence Project

Jones said that he believes he was 'blessed' after being finally released in 2017.

Advert

"When it comes to my kids, it's been a rough ride, but they are now at an age where they can understand," he said.

Jones also received a certificate of innocence, as well as his compensation.

"I don't believe in luck, I believe I was blessed," Jones told the Kansas City Star.

An attorney who worked on the case said: "We were floored by how much they looked alike."

So, on the off chance that you have a doppelgänger who you're aware of, you might want to keep them in mind if you're ever falsely accused of a crime.

Featured Image Credit: Kansas City Police Department

Topics: US News, Crime

Emma Guinness
Emma Guinness

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 mins ago
24 mins ago
an hour ago
  • 8 mins ago

    Archaeologists make 90 metre long Ancient Roman discovery buried on the ocean floor

    Divers excavated something in Italy that could reveal Roman-era secrets

    News
  • 24 mins ago

    'Worst shark attack ever' saw desperate crew feed dead to sharks as they circled in bloodbath

    If you've seen Jaws, then you'll know about this

    News
  • an hour ago

    'Infuriated' swingers speak out on the impact Diddy's 'freak-off' parties had on community

    Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyers caused an outcry in the swinging community

    News
  • an hour ago

    Dad issues grave warning as partner fighting for her life after horror mosquito bite infection

    She fainted due to the bites and fell down a flight of stairs

    News
  • Execution of death row inmate to go ahead despite new evidence that could prove crime was never committed
  • Death Row killer who committed horrific crime stops execution with 20 minutes to go
  • Prisoner demands freedom after spending half his life behind bars for stealing mobile phone 20 years ago
  • Man 'held captive by stepmum in house of horrors for 20 years' speaks out for first time about horrific situation