Kevin Strickland was born on June 7, 1959, in Kansas. He was 20 years old, when he was sent to prison for a triple murder he did not commit. He was convicted by an all-white jury while no physical evidence linked him to the crime.

Kevin spent the next 43 years in prison, serving a life sentence while being innocent. In 2021, his case gained national attention after former prosecutors in his trial admitted that he should be released because he was most likely not guilty.

Kevin Strickland Always Claimed His Innocence

For four decades Kevin maintained his innocence. At the time of the crime, he was watching television and wasn’t anywhere near the location of the murders. Cynthia Douglas was an eyewitness who pick him up out of a lineup after being pressured by the local police.

Ms. Douglas would later seek the assistance of the Missouri Innocents Projects to recant her testimony, but unfortunately, she passed away before being able to do so. Her children, however, made it clear that it was in her will to see Kevin freed, which led to the re-examination of his case.

The Law Failed Kevin Once More

Missouri law states that wrongfully imprisoned inmates should receive $50 per day of post-conviction confinement only if their innocence has been proven via DNA evidence. Kevin Strickland was not freed that way!

This led to the creation of a GoFundMe campaign that aimed to help Kevin get back on his feet after being released from prison. It raised over $1.6 million from caring strangers who also offered Strickland messages of support.

While money cannot make up for the lost time. It will surely give Kevin Strickland the peace, comfort, and tranquility he deserves after spending almost his entire life behind bars. It will enable him to believe in a better future and hopefully leave the past behind.

In a recent interview, legendary Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has described Arsenal’s French defender Wiliam Saliba as a ‘waste of money’. The 19-year old soccer player joined the North London side in the summer of 2020 but has yet to see any first-team action for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s team signed the promising France youth international on July 25, 2019, from Saint-Étienne. Saliba was to join Arsenal in the summer of 2020 after spending the season on loan at his former club. Media reported that the youngster had signed a five-year contract with the Gunners and that the North London side will pay a transfer fee slightly under $37 million.

Rio Ferdinand Is Confused by Arsenal’s Management of Saliba

Rio Ferdinand’s comment is due to the fact that the French defender was loaned to OGC Nice for the remainder of the 2020-2021 season without making a single appearance for Arsenal. Arteta took the decision to loan out Saliba so he could get more first-team minutes under his belt, as well as help him cope with the loss of his parents while being in a more familiar environment.

The Bondy-Born Player Made an Instant Impression

William Saliba made his professional debut for Saint-Étienne on September 25, 2018, in a 3-2 victory over Toulouse. He made a total of 19 appearances during his first season and immediately grabbed the attention of several scouts, including the ones working for Arsenal. The North London club rushed to sign the young defender in the hope that after gathering experience during a second season in Ligue 1 he will be able to solve the team’s poor defensive performances.

While Rio Ferdinand’s words may seem harsh, especially towards a 19-year old, the former England defender hasn’t scratched off Saliba from Arsenal’s future. He simply cannot understand what’s happened with the Frenchman’s integration and lack of first-team football.