The murder took place in 1998 and took the life of a legally blind woman.

Murderer Comes Forward

Earl G. Mann, 35, recently came forward and pleaded guilty to taking part in the brutal murder of Judith Johnson, 58.

Johnson was reportedly raped and killed at her Barberton home in the early morning.

Her granddaughter, who was an unexpected houseguest that night, was also raped, but survived.

Wrong Man Sent to Jail

Clarence Elkins was accused of the rapes and murder and investigators believed Elkins drove to Johnson’s home, who was his mother-in-law, and raped and killed her, before raping his niece.

The girl claimed it was Elkins who raped her, which served as key evidence in the case.

Family Fights Back

Since his imprisonment, Elkins and his wife have fought for his release and called on another DNA testing.

Investigators found that on Johnson’s property was a cigarette with Mann’s DNA on it.

Elkins was released and Mann’s new sentence, he was in jail for several attacks on girls, is 55 years in prison.

(Source: Canton Rep)

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