DNA Clears Man After 28 Years Behind Bars
Donald Gates Takes Bus Ride to Freedom
By CHRIS GORDON and DORA HASAN MEKOUAR
Updated 8:15 PM EST, Tue, Dec 15, 2009



A District man who spent almost 28 years behind bars for the rape and
murder of a Georgetown University student has been freed.

A D.C. Superior Court judge ordered Donald Gates released after DNA
evidence proved the 58-year-old man innocent.

Gates was released from an Arizona prison Tuesday. He was handed warm
clothes and $75 in cash before being driven to a bus station for the
ride to his Ohio hometown.

"I'm going home. I'm happy I'm out, happy to be a part of the community
and that's all I've got to say,” Gates told reporters who gathered at
the prison after his release. “I might talk a little bit more after I
have a chance to think."

Gates opted to take the bus instead of flying so he could have a look at
the country he hasn’t seen in almost 30 years.

The Gates case is the first time DNA evidence has been used to clear a
convicted murderer in a Washington, D.C., courtroom. Gates was convicted
in the June 1981 rape and murder of Catherine Shilling. The 21-year-old
university student worked at a law firm in the Watergate office
building. She was walking home to Georgetown when she was dragged into
the woods in Rock Creek Park, raped and shot in the head.

*****Gates was convicted on the testimony of an FBI hair analyst who
testified that two hairs found on the victim belonged to Gates. The
agent was later discredited. Gates maintained his innocence all along.*****

Retired former Chief Judge Fred Ugast, who presided over the Gates
trial, said he is concerned and disturbed about the case. Ugast wants
the Department of Justice to conduct an investigation to determine if
any other innocent people where convicted based upon the agent’s false
testimony.

"There are two victims in this case. There's Katherine Shilling, 21
years old, brutally raped and murdered,” said Joan Draper, Assistant
U.S. Attorney. “And, unfortunately, there's Mr. Gates. He's a victim also."


- - -


Yet another FBI screwup...