Ronald Cotton spent more than ten years in prison after being wrongly convicted without any physical evidence.
DNA testing later identified the real attacker and proved his innocence. Jennifer Thompson, the woman who identified him in court, later stood beside him as they told their story.
His name became known through public talks, national interviews, and a decision that surprised many – to forgive her.
| Name | Ronald Cotton |
| Birthplace | North Carolina, USA |
| Known For | Wrongful conviction, DNA exoneration |
| Year of Conviction | 1985 |
| Year of Exoneration | 1995 |
| Years in Prison | 10.5 |
| Victim Who Misidentified | Jennifer Thompson |
| DNA Confirmed Offender | Bobby Poole |
| Coauthored Memoir | Picking Cotton (2009) |
| Post-Prison Activities | Public speaking, advocacy, family life |
| Estimated Net Worth (2025) | $250,000-$350,000 |
The 1984 Crime That Sparked a Decade of Misjudgment
On July 28, 1984, a college student named Jennifer Thompson was sexually assaulted in her apartment.
She later described studying her attacker’s face so that she could identify him later. Police asked her to help create a sketch.
That sketch became the center of a lineup that included Ronald Cotton, a young Black man with past run-ins with the law.
Thompson identified Cotton as her attacker both in a photo array and in a physical lineup. Her confidence carried weight.
Prosecutors moved quickly. Her words shaped the entire case. There were no fingerprints. There was no DNA testing in use at that time.
Nothing linked Cotton to the crime except one thing: her identification.
A Second Victim Gave a Different Answer
That same night, another woman nearby had also been attacked. Her description matched Thompson’s closely.
But when she was asked to identify her attacker in the same lineup, she chose someone else.
Her testimony was not presented in court. That decision would later become a central issue in the appeals process.
Trials That Ignored Warning Signs
First Trial: Circumstantial Foundation
Ronald Cotton’s first trial took place in early 1985. The case leaned heavily on Jennifer Thompson’s certainty.
Prosecutors also pointed to a flashlight found in Cotton’s house. They argued it matched the one used during the assault.
Shoe rubber fragments were presented as matching those found at the scene.
The defense challenged the strength of the evidence. But the jury gave weight to Thompson’s unwavering statement.
Cotton was convicted of rape and burglary. He received a life sentence plus 54 years.
Second Trial: A Refused Confession
In 1987, the conviction was overturned on appeal. A second trial was ordered after it came to light that the second victim had picked someone else, an important fact the first jury never heard.
At this new trial, a name surfaced: Bobby Poole.
Cotton had met Poole in prison. Other inmates said Poole confessed to the assaults. Cotton’s defense pushed to introduce this confession.
The judge refused. Without that critical piece, the second trial ended with the same result: another conviction.
Cotton was again sentenced to life, plus more.
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Life Inside – Holding On Without Proof
Ronald Cotton entered prison at age 22 and left at 33.
During those years, he held firm to one belief: the truth would eventually come out.
Inside prison, Ronald Cotton took on daily labor jobs that paid almost nothing. He spent his nights reading court documents and preparing letters to attorneys, journalists, and legal advocates.
Every message he sent carried the same message: he is innocent.
During that time, he came face-to-face with Bobby Poole. Other inmates confirmed that Poole had admitted responsibility for the assaults.
Despite those statements, Cotton lacked any legal path to present that information in court.
His only hope rested on future technology and the possibility that science could finally prove what words could not.
DNA Evidence Brought the Real Truth
In 1994, DNA testing had become widely available. Samples from the original rape kit had been preserved.
The Innocence Project and Cotton’s legal team requested new analysis. It was a risk, but one that Cotton welcomed.
The results came back clear: Ronald Cotton’s DNA was not present. Bobby Poole’s DNA matched.
State Reaction and Immediate Release
In 1995, the state joined Cotton’s legal team to vacate the conviction. The court acted quickly.
On June 30, 1995, Cotton was released from prison. Days later, the Governor issued a formal pardon of innocence.
The justice system in North Carolina had failed. DNA had corrected what the courts missed.
Jennifer Thompson Faced a Shocking Truth
Jennifer Thompson had always believed she did the right thing. She had trusted her memory. She had taken the witness stand with conviction.
The news in 1995 destroyed her sense of confidence. The man she helped imprison was innocent. The real rapist had gone free for years because of her words.
Jennifer Thompson contacted Ronald Cotton after learning the truth. Their meeting took place in 1997 inside a local church where both felt safe.
She broke down in tears and expressed deep remorse for her role in his wrongful conviction.
Cotton heard her out without anger or blame. His response came not through rehearsed words, but with calm sincerity.
He chose to forgive her face-to-face, offering peace instead of resentment.
From Victim and Accused to Partners in Reform
After their reconciliation, Ronald Cotton and Jennifer Thompson made an unexpected decision.
They began speaking together in public, addressing audiences at universities, legal forums, and training seminars.
Every appearance focused on education. Their message focused on preventing mistakes, not punishing those who made them.
Picking Cotton: A Memoir of Unlikely Unity
In 2009, they published a memoir titled Picking Cotton. The book gave both of them a voice.
Jennifer described the horror of discovering her mistake. Ronald detailed the pain of watching justice turn its back.
The book became a bestseller. It has been used in criminal justice programs, psychology courses, and reform discussions.
Career and Net Worth of Ronald Cotton Today
North Carolina offered $5,000 per year for wrongful imprisonment. Cotton refused at first. The amount felt like an insult.
He eventually received about $110,000 from the state, a figure that barely reflected the time he lost.
Modest Earnings and Life Stability
After his release, Cotton took steady work to support himself. One of his first jobs came from LabCorp, the same lab that processed the DNA test that cleared his name.
He later took a second job at a manufacturing facility to increase his income. He bought a home in Mebane, North Carolina.
In the years that followed, he got married and became a father. Some income came through public speaking and book royalties, though neither provided consistent earnings.
Financial Summary
- State settlement: Approx. $110,000
- Book royalties: Modest and irregular
- Speaking engagements: Mostly unpaid or small honoraria
- Current home: Owned in North Carolina
- Net worth: Estimated between $250,000 and $350,000
Final Thoughts
Ronald Cotton lost over ten years to a conviction built on error and weak evidence. DNA testing exposed the truth and led to his release.
Since then, he has worked to change how the justice system handles eyewitness claims. His story continues to shape how wrongful convictions are recognized and prevented.
References
- Innocence Project – “Ronald Cotton” (exoneree case profile). https://innocenceproject.org/cases/ronald-cotton/
- PBS Frontline – “What Jennifer Saw” (Frontline documentary episode on the case, 1997). https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dna/cotton/summary.html
- Los Angeles Times – “North Carolina to Weigh Claims of Innocence” (news article noting Cotton’s 1995 DNA exoneration). https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-aug-04-na-innocence4-story.html
- St. Martin’s Press (Macmillan) – “Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption” (official publisher page for the Cotton-Thompson memoir). https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429962155/pickingcotton/
- CBS News (60 Minutes) – “Eyewitness: How Accurate Is Visual Memory?” (Lesley Stahl 60 Minutes segment on Cotton’s case & eyewitness testimony, 2009). https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eyewitness-how-accurate-is-visual-memory/
- U.S. Department of Justice – “Justice Department Honors 12 Individuals and Teams for Advancing Rights and Services for Crime Victims” (DOJ press release, April 21, 2015, noting Ronald Cotton & Jennifer Thompson’s Special Courage Award). https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-honors-12-individuals-and-teams-advancing-rights-and-services-crime
- The Marshall Project – “When the Innocent Go to Prison, How Many Guilty Go Free?” (Q&A feature with Jennifer Thompson, co-author of Picking Cotton, March 21, 2018). https://www.themarshallproject.org/2018/03/21/when-the-innocent-go-to-prison-how-many-guilty-go-free
- National Registry of Exonerations – “Ronald Cotton” (complete case file detailing Cotton’s wrongful conviction and exoneration). https://exonerationregistry.org/cases/10358
- NPR (All Things Considered) – “Finding Freedom In Forgiveness” (essay by Ronald Cotton and Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, aired March 5, 2009, on NPR’s This I Believe series). https://www.npr.org/2009/03/05/101469307/finding-freedom-in-forgiveness
- The Washington Post – “The Perfect Witness” (feature article on Ronald Cotton and Jennifer Thompson’s story and public advocacy, March 4, 2001). https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2001/03/04/the-perfect-witness/a7fa0461-c15c-4237-86db-52ab5069fbea/
