Glynn Simmons, an Oklahoma man who spent nearly five decades in prison for a murder he did not commit, died Wednesday at the age of 72. His death came three years after his conviction was overturned and he was declared innocent, making him the longest-serving exoneree in U.S. history.
Simmons died from colon cancer, his attorney Joseph Norwood confirmed. Norwood, who represented Simmons in his fight for justice, described him as a fighter who never gave up, even when faced with a new battle against cancer after his release.
"Once we got him out, he was immediately faced with another fight, his cancer, which ultimately took him," Norwood said. "He fought it to the end."
Simmons was convicted in connection with a 1975 murder near Oklahoma City. He maintained his innocence throughout his imprisonment, which lasted 48 years before his conviction was overturned in 2023. Prosecutors acknowledged that the evidence did not establish his guilt. Following his exoneration, Simmons filed a federal civil rights lawsuit and reached a partial settlement of $7.15 million.
Despite the decades lost to incarceration, Simmons' family stated that he did not allow the ordeal to destroy his faith in humanity. He chose to remain in Oklahoma after his release, aiming to build a legacy and honor those who had shown him kindness. His loved ones described him as a man who maintained an attitude of gratitude and looked for the best in people, never letting bitterness define him.
Simmons accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior on Sunday, October 25, just days before his death. His family has requested privacy as they mourn and will announce funeral arrangements at a later date.