Manhattan DA Vacates Wrongful Convictions After 30 Years with DNA Advancements

Wrongful Convictions Vacated

• 🎯 The Manhattan DA's office has moved to vacate the second-degree murder convictions of Charles Collins and Brian BS, acknowledging they can no longer stand behind these cases.
• ⚖️ Both men were wrongfully convicted 30 years ago for the murder of 85-year-old James Reed.
• 💡 Advancements in DNA testing were crucial in reopening the case and ultimately clearing the men.

Coerced Confessions and Unsolved Homicide

• ⛓️ Collins and BS, then 17 years old, were allegedly coerced by NYPD detectives into falsely accusing each other and confessing to the murder.
• 🩸 The victim, James Reed, was found dead in his Harlem apartment, and DNA found under his fingernails was not tested until 2023.
• ❓ The DA's office acknowledges an unsolved homicide alongside the vacated convictions.

Personal Impact and Justice

• 😔 Brian BS served 30 years and was released on parole in 2024, while Charles Collins served 22 years and was paroled in 2017.
• 🎓 While incarcerated, BS earned a bachelor's degree in sociology, graduating in May 2025.
• 🌱 Collins has since re-entered his life, spending time with his family, including his son and grandchild.
• ✅ Both men expressed relief and a sense of justice being preserved, though they noted it was sadly 30 years too late.