KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Two men had their convictions overturned Wednesday in connection to a double homicide that took place in 2009, a case marred by the involvement of a disgraced former Kansas City, Kansas, detective. The men, Dominique Moore, 40, and Cedric Warren, 34, were both incarcerated for nearly 15 years, with life sentences that mandated they serve 25 years without parole.
As Moore walked out of the state prison in El Dorado, he expressed his gratitude, saying he felt “thankful and blessed.” A crowd of family members cheered as Warren exited the jail in the county where his conviction was handed down. The emotional weight of their release was palpable; Warren’s father, Cedric Toney, spoke with choking words, “I really want to cry, but I can’t. That’s how overwhelmed I am.” Warren, overwhelmed by the moment, chose not to speak to the gathering press.
Underlying the overturned convictions was questionable behavior by Roger Golubski, the detective who supervised the case. Golubski had recently died in what is believed to be a suicide, as he faced criminal charges for allegations of assaulting Black women. While Toney claimed that Golubski had harassed members of his family prior to the investigation, this allegation was not part of the court proceedings that led to the recent judgment. The pivotal reason for Judge Aaron Roberts’ decision to overturn the convictions was that prosecutors did not disclose critical information about significant mental health issues concerning a vital witness, who had suffered from schizophrenia and provided inconsistent testimony.
Warren’s situation echoes that of Lamonte McIntyre, who spent over two decades behind bars due to a similar scenario involving Golubski. The district attorney for Wyandotte County, Mark Dupree, noted that the decision to not retry the duo was crucial and did not hinge on Golubski’s actions. He stated that it would not be “just or fair” to proceed with a new trial based on the violations that occurred previously, where vital evidence was withheld by previous prosecutors.
Dupree, who has held the district attorney position since 2017, emphasized that his office has significantly improved training on equitable legal practices and has nearly completed the digitization of numerous old cases, part of a $1.7 million initiative to investigate possible misconduct tied to Golubski and his role in various cases. “It’s not about getting the conviction. It’s about getting a just outcome and doing what is right,” Dupree stressed.
Brittany Robinson, a cousin of Warren, shared the family’s enduring faith in his innocence, recounting her mother’s dying wish for the family to keep fighting for his freedom. “On his momma’s death bed she said, ‘Don’t quit fighting until my baby come home,'” she recalled, condemning Golubski as corrupt and expressing sympathy for other families affected by his alleged crimes.
As Moore traveled back home, relishing the thought of barbecue after years of prison meals, he reiterated his innocence. “I am just thankful that the court has seen the wrong that has happened in my case,” he said. Both men can now look towards rebuilding their lives after a lengthy fight for justice.
Accountably, Golubski has faced serious accusations over the years, with multiple federal charges against him. Although one lawsuit involving McIntyre has reached a resolution, others remain pending. An attorney representing Warren, Cheryl Pilate, remarked that efforts will continue to scrutinize cases linked to Golubski. “It is absolutely not the last one,” she declared, emphasizing the breadth of Golubski’s notorious influence on law enforcement and the legal system, indicating there are likely more stories similar to those of Warren and Moore.
