Special Report Spotlight JUSTICE SYSTEM He spent decades in prison. How the botched murder case was uncovered N'dea Yancey-Bragg USA Today May 24, 2026 2 hrs ago 0 × USA Today - Vertical The former vice president spoke out against the $1.7 billion fund as part of President Donald Trump's lawsuit against his own IRS. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Harry Ruiz should never have been convicted.kAm%92EVD E96 4@?4=FD:@? 2 }6H *@C< ;F586 C624965 pAC:= af[ =625:?8 9:> E@ E@DD E96 3@E4965 >FC56C 4@?G:4E:@?]k^AmkAm#F:K <?@HD 96V== ?6G6C 86E 324< E96 ad J62CD 96 DA6?E :? AC:D@? 7@C 2 >FC56C 96 2=H2JD >2:?E2:?65 96 5:5 ?@E 4@>>:E] qFE 96 D2:5 E92E 52J :? 4@FCE =:7E65 2 9F86 H6:89E @77 9:D D9@F=56CD]k^AmkAmQx 76=E @G6CH96=>65] x 76=E C6=:6G65] x 76=E =:<6 x 42? 3C62E96[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am Harry Ruiz stands April 27 in a New York City courtroom as a judge prepares to vacate his murder conviction. Dean Moses, pool kAm#F:K D2:5 E96 962C:?8 2=D@ D965 ?6H =:89E @? 6G:56?46 E92E 4@F=5 92G6 96=A65 9:D 42D6] p C6:?G6DE:82E:@? F?4@G6C65 E92E AC@D64FE@CD A2:5 E96 D@=6 E66?286 6J6H:E?6DD 2?5 96C >@E96C 2?5[ 27E6C E96 4@?G:4E:@?[ H6C6 E@=5 3J EH@ @E96C H:E?6DD6D E92E #F:K H2D ?@E A2CE @7 E96 `hhb >FC56C\7@C\9:C6 A=@E]k^Am People are also reading… Friday Five: New McDonald's, deli, changes at Concord Mills and more Atrium Health to open new emergency department in Speedway area NASCAR champ Kyle Busch dies at 41 after severe illness Commissioners Notebook: Budget proposal unveiled this week, public hearing June 1 'Top Chef' episode in Asheville highlights food traditions, Helene recovery Coca-Cola 600 Week is here - Drivers reflect on powerful pre-race ceremony Friday Five: Burrage Road construction, historical program, a rant and fun Pardoned Jan. 6 rioter who opened Asheville business faces backlash Proposed Cabarrus County budget holds rate at 57.6 cents, increases spending by 3 percent Memorial Day schedules - Many offices closed; parks, pools open White Point partners with Liles family to recapitalize Gibson Mill in Concord Coca-Cola 600 Weekend is here - NASCAR's longest race Family: Kyle Busch died from severe pneumonia, sepsis Concord Police Department welcomes 11 new officers Cabarrus landfill worker honored for saving $1 million piece of equipment kAm!C6G:@FD AC@D64FE@CD AC6G:@FD=J 72:=65 E@ 5:D4=@D6 E92E 6G:56?46[ #F:K’D 2EE@C?6J #@? zF3J D2:5] %96 }6H *@C< r@F?EJ s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6J’D ~77:46 D2:5 :E 92D “?@ 32D:D E@ 5:DAFE6” zF3J’D 4=2:>D[ 3FE 4@F=5?’E 4@?7:C> E96>[ 6:E96C[ :? A2CE 3642FD6 E96 AC@D64FE@C C67FD65 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 C6:?G6DE:82E:@?]k^Am kAm“%@ E9:D 4@FCE[ E92E DA62<D G@=F>6D[” yF586 #@36CE |2?56=32F> HC@E6]k^AmkAmzF3J 42==65 E96 42D6 2? 6I2>A=6 @7 QD6C:@FD[ 68C68:@FD[ A6CD:DE6?E[ 4@?E:?F:?8 AC@D64FE@C:2= >:D4@?5F4E[Q 2 AC@3=6> =682= 6IA6CED D2J :D =:?<65 E@ 9F?5C65D @7 HC@?87F= 4@?G:4E:@?D ?2E:@?H:56]k^Am kAm(96? 2D<65 :7 2?J@?6 H@F=5 36 96=5 244@F?E23=6 :? #F:KVD 42D6[ s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6J p=G:? qC288 D2:5[ QE96 ;F586’D 564:D:@? 2?5 @FC A2A6CD <:?5 @7 DE2?5 7@C E96>D6=G6D]”k^Am kAm“(6’C6 7@4FD65 @?[ >F49 >@C6 AC@DA64E:G6=J[ 2?J =6DD@?D E92E 42? 36 5C2H? 96C6 8@:?8 7@CH2C5[ C2E96C E92? C6EC@DA64E:G6=J[” qC288 D2:5]k^Am Harry Ruiz, left, sits in a New York City courtroom April 27 with his lawyer, Ron Kuby. Dean Moses, pool k9am(92E 92AA6?65nk^9amkAmp7E6C t>>2?F6= u6=:I H2D >FC56C65 :? `hhb[ 2 `b\J62C\@=5 ?6:893@C A68865 #F:K 2D E96 D9@@E6C[ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED D9@H] %9@F89 96C E6DE:>@?J H2D :?4@?D:DE6?E[ @E96C H:E?6DD6D 4@CC@3@C2E65 #F:KVD 2=:3: 2?5 E96C6 H2D ?@ A9JD:42= 6G:56?46 =:?<:?8 #F:K E@ E96 4C:>6[ 96 H2D 4@?G:4E65 2?5 8:G6? E96 >2I:>F> D6?E6?46]k^Am kAmQx 5:5?VE 56D6CG6 E92E[Q 96 D2:5] Q%96J E@@< >J J@FE9 2H2J] %96J E@@< >J =:76] x 4@F=5 92G6 5:65 6G6CJ 52J]Qk^Am kAmpD #F:K 7@F89E 9:D 4@?G:4E:@?[ 96 D2:5 96 76== :?E@ 56AC6DD:@? 3FE ?6G6C 82G6 FA 9@A6]k^AmkAmw6 H2D C6=62D65 @? A2C@=6 :? a_`h 3FE D2:5 96 C2C6=J H6?E 2?JH96C6 @E96C E92? H@C<[ D64=F5:?8 9:>D6=7 @FE @7 762C @7 86EE:?8 42F89E FA :? 2?@E96C 42D6 @7 >:DE2<6? :56?E:EJ]k^AmkAmQr@>:?8 9@>6[ x DE:== 76=E 2 5:D4@??64E[Q 96 D2:5] Qx 5:5?VE <?@H 9@H E@ 36 2 72E96C @C 2 9FD32?5 @C 2 D@? @C 2 3C@E96C]Qk^Am A judge determined Harry Ruiz, who spent 25 years in prison, should never have been convicted in a 1993 murder-for-hire plot. Dean Moses, pool kAm(92E 96 5:5?VE <?@H H2D E92E :? E96 `d J62CD =625:?8 FA E@ 2?5 7@==@H:?8 9:D EC:2=[ AC@D64FE@CD AC@G:565 E96 2==6865 6J6H:E?6DD 2?5 96C >@E96C H:E9 >@C6 E92? S`f[___ :? “42D9[ 2A2CE>6?ED 2?5 =682= 2DD:DE2?46[” 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED D2J]k^Am kAmxE H2D :?7@C>2E:@? 9:D 2EE@C?6J =:<6=J 4@F=5 92G6 FD65 E@ F?56C>:?6 96C E6DE:>@?J] %96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=65 E92E AC@D64FE@CD 2C6 C6BF:C65 E@ 5:D4=@D6 2== D:8?:7:42?E[ 72G@C23=6 :?7@C>2E:@? :? E96:C A@DD6DD:@? E@ 5676?52?ED[ <?@H? 2D E96 qC25J CF=6]k^AmkAmqFE zF3J D2:5 E96 EC:2= AC@D64FE@C[ 7@C>6C 2DD:DE2?E 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J w6=6? $EFC>[ ?6G6C D92C65 E9:D :?7@C>2E:@? H:E9 E96 5676?D6] %96 EC:2= AC@D64FE@C “564=:?65 E@ G@=F?E2C:=J 5:D4FDD E9:D 42D6Q 5FC:?8 E96 C6:?G6DE:82E:@?[ E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46 HC@E6]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmx? a__a[ 2 “>2;@C ?2C4@E:4D EC277:4<6C” :?7@C>65 7@C>6C 2DD:DE2?E 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J y@9? s@C>:? E92E 96 9:C65 D@>6@?6 E@ <:== u6=:I[ 2? 244@F?E 4@CC@3@C2E65 3J 2?@E96C >6>36C @7 E96 D2>6 5CF8 @C82?:K2E:@?[ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED D2J] p82:?[ zF3J D2:5[ AC@D64FE@CD ?6G6C E@=5 #F:K’D 2EE@C?6J 2E E96 E:>6 23@FE E9:D 4C:E:42= 6G:56?46 F?E:= 27E6C E96 C6:?G6DE:82E:@? H2D =2F?4965 :? a_ac]k^Am kAm%96 2DD:DE2?E 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J 2DD:8?65 E@ E96 42D6 C642==65 DA62<:?8 H:E9 #F:KVD 5676?D6 2EE@C?6J 3FE AC@D64FE@CD Q92G6 ?@ C64@C5D :?5:42E:?8 H92E H2D @C H2D ?@EQ 5:D4=@D65]k^Am kAms@C>:? 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E] $EFC> 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E @? 96C @=5 42D6D[ D2J:?8 D96 5@6D?VE 92G6 Q2 DF77:4:6?E >6>@CJQ E@ 5:D4FDD E96> H:E9@FE C6G:6H:?8 C6=2E65 5@4F>6?ED]k^Am kAmQx 92G6 C625 E96 2CE:4=6D 2?5 DF77:46 :E E@ D2J E92E ?F>6C@FD DE2E6>6?ED 4@?E2:?65 :? E96 2CE:4=6D 4@?46C?:?8 E96 #F:K 42D6 2C6 ?@E 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 >J >6>@CJ[Q D96 D2:5 :? 2 E6IE >6DD286j D96 564=:?65 E@ DA64:7J]k^Am Harry Ruiz hugs his lawyer, Ron Kuby, on April 27 after a judge in New York vacated his murder conviction. Dean Moses, pool k9amw@H 4@>>@? :D E9:Dnk^9am kAm(:E99@=5:?8 6G:56?46 :D E96 >@DE 4@>>@? 7@C> @7 AC@D64FE@C:2= >:D4@?5F4E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $2>F6= vC@DD[ 4@\7@F?56C @7 E96 }2E:@?2= #68:DECJ @7 tI@?6C2E:@?D] !C@D64FE@C >:D4@?5F4E A=2J65 2 C@=6 :? >@C6 E92? b_T @7 HC@?87F= 4@?G:4E:@? 42D6D[ E96 C68:DECJ C6A@CE65 :? a_a_[ E9@F89 vC@DD D2:5 E96 C2E6D 2C6 =:<6=J 9:896C]k^AmkAmQxEVD 56=:36C2E6=J 4@?462=65 2?5 @7E6? DF446DD7F==J[Q 96 D2:5]k^AmkAm&?62CE9:?8 E9:D <:?5 @7 >:D4@?5F4E @7E6? E2<6D 6?@C>@FD 677@CE]k^Am kAm#F:K’D 4@?G:4E:@? H2D G242E65 27E6C 2? 6IE6?D:G6 C6:?G6DE:82E:@?[ DA2C<65 3J 2 E:A 7C@> 2 4@=5 42D6 56E64E:G6] xE :?G@=G65 :?E6CG:6H:?8 5@K6?D @7 H:E?6DD6D 2?5 C6G:6H:?8 E9@FD2?5D @7 5@4F>6?ED E@ 4@CC@3@C2E6 E96D6 4=2:>D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $92=6?2 w@H2C5[ 9625 @7 E96 !@DE\r@?G:4E:@? yFDE:46 &?:E]k^Am kAm%96 #F:K 42D6 362CD D:>:=2C:E:6D E@ 2?5 D92C6D 2 <6J A=2J6C H:E9 2?@E96C HC@?87F= 4@?G:4E:@? 7C@> E92E 6C2[ H9:49 H2D F?4@G6C65 27E6C 2 D:>:=2C 677@CE]k^Am kAmx? }@G6>36C a_ab[ y232C (2=<6C H2D 6I@?6C2E65 :? 2 `hhd 5@F3=6 >FC56C 27E6C E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46 2?5 E96 x??@46?46 !C@;64E C6:?G6DE:82E65]k^Am kAm%96 :?BF:CJ 7@F?5 “?F>6C@FD AC@3=6>D[” 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 x??@46?46 !C@;64E[ :?4=F5:?8 E92E AC@D64FE@CD 72:=65 E@ 5:D4=@D6 E92E @?6 <6J H:E?6DD E@=5 :?G6DE:82E@CD (2=<6C H2D ?@E E96 8F?>2? 2?5 2?@E96C H9@ :56?E:7:65 (2=<6C 2D E96 8F?>2? H2D 8:G6? 9@FD:?8 36?67:ED] $EFC> E@=5 ;FC@CD E92E E96 =2EE6C H:E?6DD C646:G65 “?@ 4@?D:56C2E:@? :? 4@??64E:@? H:E9 96C E6DE:>@?J[” E96 x??@46?46 !C@;64E D2:5]k^Am kAmQ%9:D :D E96 EJA6 @7 E9:?8 H6 C@FE:?6=J H@F=5 5:D4=@D6 ?@H[Q qC288 D2:5]k^Am Government-politics Police officers who guarded Capitol sue to block Trump's $1.8 billion 'slush fund' Jan Wolfe Reuters k9ams:D4:A=:?6 C2C6k^9am kAm%9@F89 “2 8@@5 ?F>36C @7 AC@D64FE@CD 2C6 C6A62E @776?56CD[” E96J 2C6 C2C6=J 5:D4:A=:?65[ D2:5 q6??6EE v6CD9>2?[ 2 =2H AC@76DD@C 2E !246 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 =682= 6E9:4D 6IA6CE]k^AmkAmyFDE cT @7 E96 AC@D64FE@CD :?G@=G65 :? HC@?87F= 4@?G:4E:@? 42D6D 72465 D@>6 <:?5 @7 5:D4:A=:?6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= #68:DECJ @7 tI@?6C2E:@?D] ~?=J EH@ AC@D64FE@CD H6C6 492C865 H:E9 4C:>6D C6=2E65 E@ 9:89\AC@7:=6 >:D4@?5F4E 42D6D[ 2?5 3@E9 C646:G65 >:?:>2= D6?E6?46D]k^Am kAm“x7 J@F’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 27E6C AC@D64FE@CD H9@ 2C6 AC6D6?E=J AC@D64FE@CD — 2?5 >2?J AC6D6?E AC@D64FE@CD 2C6 ?@E@C:@FD @776?56CD — x E9:?< :E’D G6CJ F?=:<6=J E92E E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 27E6C AC@D64FE@CD H9@ 92G6 =@?8 D:?46 C6E:C65[” v6CD9>2? D2:5]k^Am kAmp }6H *@C< DE2E6 4@>>:DD:@? =2F?4965 :? a_a` E@ :?G6DE:82E6 E9:D <:?5 @7 >:D4@?5F4E C646:G65 ?62C=J d__ 4@>A=2:?ED] $@ 72C[ :E @?=J 7:?:D965 :?G6DE:82E:?8 2?5 C64@>>6?565 4@?D6BF6?46D :? @?6 42D6]k^AmkAm!6@A=6 H9@ H6C6 HC@?87F==J 4@?G:4E65 EJA:42==J 2C6 23=6 E@ D64FC6 42D9 D6EE=6>6?EDj }6H *@C< 2=@?6 A2:5 @FE >@C6 E92? S` 3:==:@? E@ 9F?5C65D @7 A6@A=6 6I@?6C2E65 E96C6[ E96 C68:DECJ C6A@CE65 :? |2C49] k^Am kAm$E:==[ :EVD C2C6 7@C E96 2EE@C?6JD H9@ 96=A65 AFE E96> 369:?5 32CD E@ 7246 4@?D6BF6?46D] !C@D64FE@CD 92G6 :>>F?:EJ 7C@> 4:G:= =2HDF:ED — 2 AC@E64E:@? D@>6 D2J E96J ?665 E@ 5@ E96:C ;@3D H:E9@FE 762C]k^Am 0 Comments Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Mike Pence criticizes Trump's 'lawfare' fund that may help Jan. 6 rioters The former vice president spoke out against the $1.7 billion fund as part of President Donald Trump's lawsuit against his own IRS. Watch Now: Related Video Iran Hormuz Tolls Could Explode American Gas Prices Now Hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants line up to apply for Trump fund payout Hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants line up to apply for Trump fund payout Rising housing costs prompt young couples to defer marriage and parenthood Rising housing costs prompt young couples to defer marriage and parenthood How Stephen Colbert Took a Parting Shot at CBS During His Last 'Late Show' Episode How Stephen Colbert Took a Parting Shot at CBS During His Last 'Late Show' Episode
Government-politics Police officers who guarded Capitol sue to block Trump's $1.8 billion 'slush fund' Jan Wolfe Reuters
Mike Pence criticizes Trump's 'lawfare' fund that may help Jan. 6 rioters The former vice president spoke out against the $1.7 billion fund as part of President Donald Trump's lawsuit against his own IRS.
