(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A lawsuit accuses police in north suburban Evanston of framing a teenager who spent 24 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit.
The lawsuit claims Evanston police knew that Frank Drew, who was 16 at the time, was not responsible for the shooting death of 15-year-old Ronald Walker in 1996.
Attorney Alyssa Martinez of Loevy and Loevy, who represents Drew, says Evanston police verbally and physically abused Drew until he confessed to the killing.
Martinez says investigators also pressured others into falsely testifying against Drew.
“We think it was a matter of they knew that they could create this outcome, and they stopped at nothing to get that outcome. There was just so much evidence proving his innocence from day one, and it really is just a travesty what has happened, and we're really hoping to get some accountability.
She also says police wanted to close the case, regardless of Drew's innocence.
“We think that they just wanted to close the case. They didn't care who actually committed the murder, and that's exactly what they did just to close the case regardless of actual innocence or guilt.”
After attorneys from The Innocence Project presented evidence that cleared Drew, he was released from prison in 2022 and his conviction was later vacated.
A spokesperson for Evanston says the city does not comment on pending lawsuits.
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