ELKHART COUNTY, Ind.--- The murder conviction of Elkhart woman Iris Seabolt was vacated yesterday, a staff attorney with the Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic (NDEJC) confirmed.

Seabolt was convicted in 2004 and sentenced to 45 years in prison for the August 2000 murder of A.J. Williams in Elkhart. 

She and her representation at NDEJC alleged that a former Elkhart Police Department (EPD) detective and other officers made up witness statements against her. According to the NDEJC website, "newly discovered evidence, including affidavits from several key witnesses recanting their testimony and statements against her, proves her innocence." And, they claim EPD and the Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office withheld additional exculpatory evidence. 

After spending nearly 19 years behind bars, she was released from prison on parole in May 2022

She is not yet officially exonerated, since the state still has the right to appeal and/or retry her, but this week, her conviction was officially vacated.