Beth LaBatte

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Charge:	Murder and Robbery
Sentence:	Life Imprisonment (2 life terms plus 20 years)
Years Imprisoned:	10
Year Crime:	1991
Year Convicted:	1997
Year Cleared:	2006
U.S. State or Country of Crime:	Wisconsin
County or Region of Crime:	Kewaunee
City of Crime:	Casco
Result:	Judicially Exonerated Released
Summary of Case:	"Beth LaBatte was wrongly convicted on December 11, 1997 of the murder and robbery of two elderly sisters. There was no physical evidence or eyewitnesses to tie LaBatte to the crime, but prosecutors relied on three jailhouse informants who testified that she confessed to the murder while jailed on an unrelated robbery. An ex-boyfriend also told police she had confessed to the murders. Beth LaBatte was sentenced to two life terms plus 20 years in prison. LaBatte's boyfriend and co-defendant, Charles Benoit, was acquitted by a jury of the murders after a separate jury trial. In June 2005 crime scene evidence that was DNA tested excluded LaBatte. Her attorneys filed a motion for a new trial that was granted in November 2005. LaBatte was released on bond on January 15, 2006. The Kewaunee County District Attorney cited insufficient evidence in declining to retry her. On August 1, 2006 a motion by the Kewaunee County District Attorney to dismiss the charges was granted."
Conviction Caused By:
Innocence Proved By:	"In 2006 crime scene evidence that was DNA tested excluded Labatte. Her attorneys filed a motion for a new trial that was granted, and the charges against Labatte were dismissed when the prosecution declined to retry her, claiming insufficent evidence."
Defendant Aided By:	The University of Wisconsin Law School Innocence Project.
Compensation Awarded:
Was Perpetrator Identified?
Age When Imprisoned:	29
Age When Released:	39
Sex:	Female
Skin/Ethnicity:	White
Information Source 1:	"Woman cleared in slayings dies, By Paul Srubas (staff), Press-Gazette (Green Bay, WI), September 4, 2007"
Information Location 1:	http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007709040558
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Beth LaBatte

Charge:

Murder and Robbery

Sentence:

Life Imprisonment (2 life terms plus 20 years)

Years Imprisoned:

10

Year Crime:

1991

Year Convicted:

1997

Year Cleared:

2006

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Wisconsin

County or Region of Crime:

Kewaunee

City of Crime:

Casco

Result:

Judicially Exonerated Released

Summary of Case:

Conviction Caused By:

Innocence Proved By:

"In 2006 crime scene evidence that was DNA tested excluded Labatte. Her attorneys filed a motion for a new trial that was granted, and the charges against Labatte were dismissed when the prosecution declined to retry her, claiming insufficent evidence."

Defendant Aided By:

The University of Wisconsin Law School Innocence Project.

Compensation Awarded:

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Age When Imprisoned:

29

Age When Released:

39

Sex:

Female

Skin/Ethnicity:

White

Information Source 1:

"Woman cleared in slayings dies, By Paul Srubas (staff), Press-Gazette (Green Bay, WI), September 4, 2007"

Information Location 1:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007709040558

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Book About Case (2):

Book Information (2):

Movie About Case:

Comments About Case: