Las Vegas, NV — In a landmark decision, a Nevada federal court has awarded over $34 million in damages to a woman who was falsely convicted and imprisoned for nearly 16 years for a 2001 homicide she did not commit. Kristin Lobato, now 41 and going by the name Blaise, expressed relief and overwhelming emotion following the verdict, emphasizing an arduous journey through the legal system that finally came to a close.
On Thursday, the emotions spilled over as the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas revealed the verdict, prompting Lobato to break down in tears and embrace her legal team. She shared with reporters that although the financial compensation was significant, it could never fully make up for the years lost behind bars, during which she missed out on life’s key moments and milestones.
The civil jury specifically found that two retired Las Vegas police detectives were responsible for fabricating evidence and inflicting emotional distress upon Lobato during the investigation of the murder of Duran Bailey, a homeless man discovered brutally slain near a dumpster in 2001. Each detective faces $10,000 in punitive damages, while the police department is held liable for the bulk of the compensatory sum.
Details emerged that at the time of Bailey’s murder, Lobato was a teenager and was taken into custody and interviewed by police without legal representation. Despite a lack of physical evidence or witnesses linking her to the crime scene, and her consistent statements that she had never met Bailey, the authorities charged her with the murder. It was claimed she confessed to the murder while under the influence during a stint in jail—a claim she fervently denied.
Lobato’s initial conviction in 2002 was overturned two years later when the Nevada Supreme Court cited a lack of opportunity for her defense to cross-examine key witnesses. Despite this, she was retried in 2006, convicted of manslaughter among other charges, and given a sentence ranging from 13 to 45 years.
Her freedom in late 2017 was largely credited to the relentless efforts of the Innocence Project and a team of attorneys in Las Vegas, who managed to convince the state Supreme Court that Lobato was in Panaca, Nevada—over 150 miles away from the crime scene—when the murder occurred.
Further clearing her name, a state court judge officially certified Lobato’s innocence in October of the previous year concerning Bailey’s killing. This certification faced opposition from local law enforcement officials who questioned the legal grounds and procedures behind its issuance.
This verdict marks a crucial resolution in a legal saga that highlights significant issues within the criminal justice system, particularly regarding the treatment of young, vulnerable individuals in the investigative process.
The story and events in this article are based on court proceedings and may be subject to updates or changes. For concerns and corrections regarding the content, contact [email protected].