PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Two of three retired Philadelphia homicide detectives accused of lying under oath about DNA evidence during the retrial of a wrongfully convicted man were sentenced to probation on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, Manuel Santiago was sentenced to two years probation after being convicted of perjury and false swearing while Frank Jastrzembski was sentenced to a year of probation after being convicted of false swearing.
Frank Jastrzembski and Manuel Santiago were convicted last year of making false statements. Santiago was also found guilty of a perjury charge. On Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, Santiago was sentenced to two years of probation after being found guilty of perjury and false swearing, while Jastrzembski received a one‑year probation term for a false swearing conviction.
Their convictions center around the criminal trial of Anthony Wright, a man who was convicted of killing 77-year-old Louise Talley inside her North Philadelphia apartment in the early 90s. When DNA linked another man to the crime in 2016, he was retried based on a confession he signed, which he said was coerced. Wright was acquitted and later sued the city.
Santiago and Jastrzembski, both then retired, testified during Wright’s re-trial and in depositions connected to the civil lawsuit. District Attorney Larry Krasner charged the former detectives, accusing them of lying on the stand.
In March, a jury partially agreed, acquitting one of three detectives but convicting Jastrzembski and Santiago.
During sentencing, prosecutors told Judge Lucretia Clemons there is “no such thing as little white lies” and argued that anyone who lies after taking an oath should be held accountable.
Defense attorneys spoke of the pair's years of service as officers and tried to highlight the good they have done.
“The court recognized the history of these two men, dedicated public servants with decades of working in law enforcement,” said Fortunato Perri, Santiago’s attorney.
“And I think the judge said it best, the only victim in this case is Louise Talley, and I think that speaks volumes.”