2 inmates released after murder charges dropped
CHICAGO — Two men who were imprisoned for more than 20 years for a 1993 murder were released Wednesday hours after Cook County prosecutors dropped charges against them.
Armando Serrano, 43, was released from Dixon Correctional Center west of Chicago, and 48-year-old Jose Montanez, 48, walked out of Danville Correctional Center in central Illinois.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said a weeping Montanez, who added he is looking forward to life, justice and being with his family.
Cook County prosecutors on Wednesday announced their decision not to retry the men. Their decision came after an appeals court ruling last month found “profoundly alarming acts of misconduct” led to the men’s convictions in the death of Rodrigo Vargas.