After spending three decades behind bars for a murder he always maintained he didn’t commit, Gordon Cordeiro finally walked free on Friday. A Hawaii judge overturned his conviction in light of new DNA evidence that proved he was not at the crime scene, marking a long-overdue victory for justice.
Cordeiro was convicted in the 1994 fatal shooting of Timothy Blaisdell on Maui, despite maintaining his innocence. His first trial resulted in a hung jury, with only one juror voting for conviction. However, in a second trial, he was found guilty of murder, robbery, and attempted murder, receiving a life sentence without parole.
The Hawaii Innocence Project spearheaded efforts to clear his name, leading to new DNA testing on crime scene evidence. The results excluded Cordeiro as a contributor, and an unidentified person’s DNA was found inside Blaisdell’s jeans pockets—critical proof that someone else was responsible. Judge Kirstin Hamman ruled that this evidence would likely have changed the outcome of the original trial and ordered Cordeiro’s immediate release.
One of Cordeiro’s first stops after leaving prison was his mother’s grave. She had passed away from ALS just a month before his 1994 arrest. “Thanks for looking over me,” he whispered at her grave, reflecting on the years he spent wrongfully imprisoned.
He then celebrated his freedom with a long-awaited steak dinner before reuniting with family at his father’s house. The next day, he visited more relatives’ graves and took his first trip to Costco in decades, adjusting to a world that had changed significantly since his incarceration.
Despite being free, Cordeiro’s legal battle may not be over. Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin has vowed to appeal the decision and could attempt to reinstate the case. However, Cordeiro remains focused on rebuilding his life, fixing cars, helping with his father’s house, and finding ways to give back to his community.
Reflecting on his journey, he expressed gratitude for advancements in forensic science. “Thank God for new DNA,” he said. “Technology is awesome.”
