Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Generosity Abounds

BENTON, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man who spent nearly 16 years in prison for a 1992 homicide he didn't commit is helping fund an investigation aimed at finding the real killer.

Joshua Kezer was exonerated two years ago in the shooting death of Angela Mischelle Lawless. The 19-year-old woman was found in her car near a southeastern Missouri exit off Interstate 55.

Kezer reached a legal settlement earlier this year with Scott County and some former law enforcement officials.

Now, KFVS-TV reports (http://bit.ly/u9MhyR ) Kezer has donated $10,000 from the settlement to the continuing investigation being led by Scott County's current sheriff, Rick Walter. Kezer says it's a matter of "doing the right thing" and helping the victim's family find closure.

In many ways Kezer was a victim as well. Of course he would like to see the person truly responsible pay for it, but to ante up his own money and show such goodwill to a family that (mistakenly) wanted him to rot in jail is a turnaround that should give us pause. An innocent man is going above and beyond to help catch a criminal and bring peace to the victim's family. Here's hoping the right person goes down for the crime and everyone can breathe a sigh of relief.