Demand the Vacating of Wrongful Convictions for the Ohio 4

In 1991, four men now known as the Ohio 4, Alfred Cleveland, Benson Davis, John Edwards, and Lenworth Edwards, were wrongfully convicted of murder in Lorain County, Ohio. Their convictions rested entirely on the testimony of a single witness, William Avery Jr., who has since fully recanted, first to the FBI in 2004, and again in a sworn affidavit in 2006. Avery admitted he lied to obtain reward money and identified his own father as the actual killer. This crucial recantation evidence was never heard in court.

In 2024, outgoing Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson filed a rare and powerful joint motion with defense attorneys to vacate the convictions, stating he would dismiss the charges once the court granted the motion. His decision followed an extensive review of the evidence and underscored his duty to seek justice, not just uphold flawed convictions.

Despite the overwhelming evidence of innocence and the prosecutor’s commitment to dismiss the case, newly elected Prosecutor Tony Cillo, who had previous ties to the case though he denied previous involvement, reversed course. On his second day in office, he withdrew the joint motion. The Ohio Attorney General’s office had also intervened prior to this, urging the court to delay a decision until Cillo took over, an unprecedented move that raised alarms about political interference.

Presiding over the case, Judge Chris Cook initially rejected the delay, stating that “justice should not pause for political transitions.” But only days later, he reversed himself, denied an emergency hearing, and effectively allowed the case to stall indefinitely.

There is no physical evidence, no credible eyewitness, and multiple ignored alibi witnesses. Even the original prosecutor has admitted the key testimony was unreliable. Keeping these men imprisoned or convicted based on thoroughly discredited evidence is a clear miscarriage of justice.

We demand the immediate vacating of the convictions of Alfred Cleveland, Benson Davis, John Edwards, and Lenworth Edwards. Justice delayed is justice denied. These men must be freed and cleared now.

For more information visit: freetheohio4.org

Please join us in taking action:
Email Lorain County Prosecutor Tony Cillo at lcp@lcprosecutor.org and respectfully urge him to hold a hearing, release these men, and vacate their convictions.

Your voice and your action will help bring us one step closer to correcting the grave injustices these innocent men have endured.

Please, sign this petition and send your email today.

Below is a sample email to send.

Subject: Urgent Request to Vacate the Convictions of the Ohio 4

To: lcp@lcprosecutor.org

Dear Prosecutor Cillo,

I am writing to respectfully urge you to take immediate action in the case of Alfred Cleveland, Benson Davis, John Edwards, and Lenworth Edwards, four men wrongfully convicted of the 1991 murder of Marsha Blakely in Lorain County.

There is now overwhelming evidence that these convictions were based solely on the discredited testimony of William Avery Jr., who has fully recanted and implicated his own father as the true perpetrator. No physical evidence links these men to the crime, and multiple alibi witnesses were disregarded.

Former Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson reviewed the evidence thoroughly and acted with integrity in filing a joint motion to vacate the convictions. I respectfully ask that you honor that effort and help restore justice by:

Supporting a hearing to review the evidence,
Releasing these men, and
Moving to vacate their convictions.
Justice should never be subject to delay or political pressure. These men deserve to have the truth acknowledged and their names cleared.

Thank you for your attention and your commitment to justice.

Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]