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Yathomas Riley has spent more than two years behind bars for a crime he likely didn’t commit: the attempted murder of his then-girlfriend on June 10, 2010.
Now, however, the undefeated heavyweight boxer is finally getting out. Prosecutors have dropped all of the charges against Riley, who is expected to be released from jail this evening. Riley credits New Times‘ reporting for prompting his release.
“You made this possible,” he said in a telephone interview from the Metro West Detention Center. “I got my life back and my future back and my family back…. Justice has been served.”
Two years ago, Riley called 9-1-1 in hysterics, claiming that his girlfriend, Koketia King, had tried to kill herself. But when King was taken to the hospital, she told detectives that it was Riley who had pulled the trigger.
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Riley was arrested and charged with attempted murder. But as we first reported back in April, the case against Riley was marred by several serious problems.
In June, we published photos of a bloody letter found at the crime scene that supported Riley’s version of events. Prosecutors called King back in for questioning, and the case against Riley unraveled. The State Attorney’s Office officially dropped the charges this morning.
“I’m very, very happy,” Riley said ahead of his release. “My plan for the day is to spend some family time, relax, and get some food. Chinese food, soul food, any food besides this food.”
