FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Michael Sullivan spent nearly thirty years in prison, enduring losses as significant as his mother’s passing and the departure of his girlfriend while suffering through brutal assaults behind bars. This ordeal stemmed from a murder he maintained he did not commit.
Earlier this month, the 64-year-old Sullivan finally saw a measure of justice when a jury in Massachusetts declared him innocent of the 1986 murder and robbery of Wilfred McGrath. As a result, he was awarded $13 million; nevertheless, state rules restrict compensation for wrongful convictions to $1 million. The jury revealed that a chemist for the state police provided false testimony during the trial, although that testimony was not the direct cause of Sullivan’s wrongful conviction. This case adds to a growing list of overturned convictions in Massachusetts over recent years.
“The primary concern has been to clear my name, to have the murder charge expunged from my record,” said Sullivan in a statement from the Framingham office of his attorney, Michael Heineman. “The financial compensation will definitely help.” A spokesperson for the Massachusetts attorney general’s office expressed respect for the jury’s decision and indicated they were considering whether to appeal the ruling.
Sullivan was convicted in 1987 for murder and armed robbery after police claimed McGrath was assaulted and robbed, with his body ultimately discarded behind an abandoned supermarket. Authorities focused on Sullivan after discovering his sister had socialized with McGrath the night prior to the murder, even visiting Sullivan’s residence. Furthermore, another suspect, Gary Grace, implicated Sullivan in exchange for a reduction in his murder charges, testifying about Sullivan’s purple jacket and a supposed connection to blood found on the garment.
Despite Sullivan’s insistence on his innocence, he received a life sentence. Grace pled guilty to being an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to six years, while Emil Petrla, responsible for beating and disposing of McGrath’s body, was sentenced to life with parole but died in prison. Sullivan recalled the painful experience of his trial. “It was shocking to be found guilty of murder,” Sullivan said, recounting how he and his family cried in the courtroom as the prosecution emphasized his supposed involvement with the purple jacket.
Life in prison was hellish for Sullivan. He endured severe beatings, including one incident where his nose was nearly bitten off, and had limited opportunities for educational or vocational training due to his status as a life-sentence inmate. “It’s incredibly difficult for someone who knows they are innocent,” Sullivan shared. “Prison is a hard environment.”
In 2011, however, significant changes began to unfold when Sullivan’s attorney requested DNA testing that had not been available during his initial trial. This analysis revealed that the jacket did not contain McGrath’s blood and could not definitively link the hair found on it to the victim. Dana Curhan, a Boston attorney who advocated for Sullivan from 1992 to 2014, stated that Sullivan had always believed there was no evidence of McGrath’s blood on the jacket. The absence of blood contradicted the prosecutor’s assertions about the nature of McGrath’s injuries.
A new trial was granted in 2012, and Sullivan was released from prison in 2013 but began his life outside under house arrest, wearing an electronic monitor. “Stepping outside felt surreal,” he recalled. By 2014, the Supreme Judicial Court upheld a decision for a new trial, and by 2019, officials announced they would not pursue retrial, mainly due to the death of key witnesses and fading memories impacting the remaining ones.
Sullivan admitted to feeling disoriented after his release as he struggled to adapt to a world that changed dramatically during his incarceration. Prior to his arrest, he worked at a peanut factory and aspired to obtain a commercial driving license to join his brother’s trucking business. Instead, he left prison with no employment options and limited adaptability. Lacking skills, he now primarily assists his sister with small tasks. His girlfriend, who had been his companion since he was twelve, eventually distanced herself from him to live her life.
“I’m still adjusting to life outside,” he confessed, revealing that he often feels anxious and remains a recluse. His sister, Donna Faria, has always stood by him, never doubting his innocence, offering support throughout his ordeal. While they frequently communicated during his imprisonment, she expressed concern for all that he lost during his time away, including family milestones and the chance to have a family of his own.
Currently living at Faria’s home in Billerica, Sullivan spends his days completing household chores, reminiscent of his time in prison where he handled laundry duties for fellow inmates. Despite the jury’s financial judgment in his favor, Sullivan does not envision a drastic change in his life. He plans to purchase a new truck but wants to save the majority of the settlement to support his nieces and nephews as they reach adulthood. He has not sought therapy for the trauma endured but his attorney indicated plans to petition the court for mental health support and education for Sullivan.
“I find joy in knowing my family will have what they need,” he said, emphasizing the importance of caring for his nieces and nephews.