Thirty-eight-year-old Black man Emanuel Fair has sued everyone involved in his nine-year incarceration for a crime he didn’t commit.
According to the Seattle Times, Fair was released from jail two and a half years ago after being for the 2008 murder of a 24-year-old Indian woman named Arpana Jinaga. He spent his lengthy prison sentence without a conviction, making him the longest-serving inmate that wasn’t formally declared guilty of a criminal offense in 2010.
As a result, he has sued the city of Redmond, Wash., and Redmond Police Capt. Brian Coats, who led the investigation of Jinaga’s death.
Fair was accused of being the lead suspect in the investigation after the Rutgers University graduate was found dead in her bedroom. She was reportedly beaten, gagged, and strangled during a sexual attack following a Halloween party she attended at her Valley View Apartment complex in Redmond City. Her body was covered in bleach, motor oil, toilet-bowl cleaner in an attempt to destroy DNA evidence of her being raped.
Fair was reportedly at the party as well, as he initially traveled to Valley View to visit a friend for the weekend. He was the only Black attendee, which he felt caused police to focus on him and his having a criminal record.
In 2010, he was arrested and thrown in jail, and following a deadlocked trial in 2017, he was tried again in 2019. He was found not guilty of first-degree murder with sexual motivation by a King County jury the second time around.
“After nine years of fighting, Emanuel Fair has the freedom he deserves. Emanuel has steadfastly maintained his innocence throughout this case and he, his family, and friends are greatly relieved that justice was served by his acquittal,” said defense attorney, Benjamin Goldsmith.
Fair’s recent lawsuit also indicated that he was sleeping at his friend’s apartment, likely while Jinaga was brutally attacked, and didn’t try to leave the apartment complex. He also reportedly assisted with cleaning the surrounding areas after the Halloween party ended as he stayed with his friend for two additional days. However, investigators chose to zero in on him after seeing him in photos of the party which prompted him to file his suit after he was released from prison.
“I’ve never seen a worse case,” said his lawyer, Corinne Sebren.
Fair also reportedly said he knew he would eventually be released, but he had no idea that his freedom would take as long as it did to arrive.
“I always knew I was going to get out; I just didn’t think it would take as long as it took.”
He added that he felt like he was “kidnapped” as he explained why he chose to sue everyone involved in his incarceration. He said they practiced negligence, civil rights violations, and malicious prosecution in his suit.
“I felt like I was kidnapped [and] I lost a lot. There was potential [for me] that was just taken away.”
The City of Redmond has not yet responded to Fair’s lawsuit, but a King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson sent a generic email about it.
“We look forward to addressing these allegations in a public courtroom, and we are confident in our case,” they said.
Meanwhile, the allegedly wrongfully imprisoned man has been struggling to adjust to everyday life. He scored a security job but he said he has been suffering from depression and guilt, and avoiding going outside. He hasn’t even visited his family during the holidays.
“I’m depressed. I just don’t want to be around nobody,” he said.
