Michael Sullivan, who spent nearly 30 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit, has been awarded $13 million in compensation. During his wrongful incarceration, Sullivan endured the deaths of his mother and siblings, his girlfriend moved on, and he suffered multiple prison attacks.
Earlier this month, a Massachusetts jury declared the 64-year-old innocent of the 1986 murder and robbery of Wilfred McGrath. Although state regulations limit wrongful conviction awards to $1 million, Sullivan was still granted $13 million. The jury also found that a state police chemist had falsely testified, though his testimony wasn’t the main factor in Sullivan’s conviction.
Sullivan’s case is part of a growing number of overturned convictions in Massachusetts. “The most important thing is being found innocent of the murder and clearing my name,” said Sullivan, speaking at the Framingham office of his attorney Michael Heineman. “The money will help, of course.”
A spokesperson for the Massachusetts attorney general said they respect the jury’s verdict and are considering an appeal.
Sullivan was convicted in 1987 after police tied him to McGrath’s murder through his sister’s connection to the victim and testimony from Gary Grace, another suspect, who was later granted immunity. Grace testified that Sullivan was seen wearing a purple jacket the night of the murder, and a state chemist claimed to have found blood and a hair on the jacket. Despite these claims, Sullivan was convicted and sentenced to life.
Grace received a reduced sentence after pleading guilty to accessory to murder, while Emil Petrla, who helped dispose of McGrath’s body, was sentenced to life. Sullivan recalls the devastating trial, saying, “I couldn’t believe I was convicted. It was hard for my family.”
In prison, Sullivan endured brutal attacks, including one where he almost lost his nose and another where he nearly lost an ear. As a life-sentence inmate, he wasn’t allowed to take classes to learn new skills. “Prison is a tough life, especially when you know you’re innocent,” he said.
However, things changed in 2011 when his attorney requested DNA testing not available during the trial. The results disproved claims that Sullivan’s jacket contained McGrath’s blood, and the hair found on the jacket was not McGrath’s. This discovery prompted a new trial in 2012 and Sullivan’s release in 2013, though he remained under home confinement with an electronic bracelet for years.
By 2014, the Supreme Judicial Court upheld the decision for a new trial, and in 2019, the state decided not to retry the case. Prosecutors cited the death of witnesses and fading memories as obstacles to retrying the case.
Sullivan, who had worked at a peanut factory and planned to become a truck driver before his arrest, faced immense difficulty adjusting to life outside prison. He left with no job prospects and little hope. He struggles to navigate the modern world and cannot use a computer, instead helping his sister with odd jobs. His long-time girlfriend, who visited him for years, eventually moved on with her life.
“I’m still not adjusted to the outside world,” Sullivan admitted. “I’m pretty much a loner.” His sister, Donna Faria, said the family always believed in his innocence. “He missed out on so much—he never married or had kids like the rest of us,” she lamented.
Now living with Faria in Billerica, Sullivan spends much of his time doing laundry for her family, just as he did for inmates in prison. Despite the financial award, Sullivan doesn’t expect his life to change drastically. He plans to treat himself to a new truck, but most of the money will go toward helping his nieces and nephews when they turn 21.
“The most important thing is making sure they have what they need,” he said.
Though Sullivan has not sought therapy for his trauma, his lawyer plans to request therapy and educational services as part of the judgment.
