The Long Road to Justice
Initially convicted and sentenced to life without parole for the murder of Roberta Wydermyer, Hastings endured decades of legal battles to prove his innocence. The 1983 crime involved a single gunshot fatality, and at the moment of conviction, DNA testing was either unavailable or not pursued effectively. Hastings had requested DNA testing on bodily fluid samples taken at the victim’s autopsy as early as 2000, but his requests were denied.
“No amount of money could ever restore the 38 years of my life that were stolen from me,” Hastings stated. “But this settlement is a welcome end to a very long road, and I look forward to moving on with my life.”
It wasn’t until 2021 when Hastings submitted a claim of innocence to the District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit that DNA testing finally took place, conclusively showing that the evidence did not match Hastings’ DNA. Following this breakthrough, his conviction was vacated in 2022 when he was 69 years old.
Uncovering the Real Perpetrator
Further DNA analysis led to the identification of the true culprit, Kenneth Packnett, who was linked to a separate violent armed kidnapping case with chilling similarities to Wydermyer’s murder.
Packnett was arrested less than three weeks after the 1983 crime for unrelated charges. At the time, crucial evidence connecting him to the murder — including jewelry and a coin purse matching those stolen from Wydermyer — was found but not investigated.
Packnett later died in prison in 2020, serving time for other offenses. In a landmark decision in 2023, a California judge officially declared Hastings “factually innocent,” formally recognizing that the evidence proved Hastings did not commit the crime.
Implications for Law Enforcement and Justice
This settlement sheds light on potential law enforcement misconduct. The lawsuit filed against two officers from the Inglewood Police Department and a Los Angeles District Attorney investigator alleged deliberate framing of Hastings.
“Police departments throughout California and across the country should take notice that there is a steep price to pay for allowing such egregious misconduct on their watch,” said Hastings’ attorney, Nick Brustin.
The City of Inglewood and defendants have not provided comments regarding the settlement or allegations. This case underscores the importance of meticulous evidence handling and the necessity for accountability within police departments.
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Moving Forward
Now residing in Southern California, Hastings has resumed a quiet life, active within his church community. While the $25 million settlement cannot undo the decades lost, it represents a critical acknowledgment of the injustice endured.
- Maurice Hastings was wrongfully imprisoned for 38 years.
- The victim, Roberta Wydermyer, was killed in 1983.
- Hastings’ conviction was vacated in 2022; declared factually innocent in 2023.
- True perpetrator, Kenneth Packnett, linked to the crime via DNA evidence years later.
- The settlement is the largest known wrongful conviction payout in California history.
For additional details on this groundbreaking wrongful conviction case, refer to the NBC News report.
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