Exonerated Jacksonville man who spent 42 years in prison dies 5 years after release

A Jacksonville man who spent 42 years in prison for a murder he did not commit and was released only five years ago, died at age 80, his family confirmed.

Clifford Williams was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1976.

Williams and his nephew were accused of killing a woman and shooting another, but an investigation found there was insufficient evidence.

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Another man ended up confessing to the shooting, but he was never charged, or investigated — and has since died.

Williams was released in 2019.

In 2020, Williams received $2.15 million in compensation from the government.

News4JAX interviewed Williams in 2020, and he revealed an unexpected diagnosis of prostate cancer.

“The last year, they’ve been fighting over at Shands [for me]. And now I’m cancer-free. It’ll be a year March 28 this year,” Williams said.

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