INKSTER, Mich. (WXYZ) — When Kevin Harrington called for loved ones from prison, he used the words “blessed and highly favored,” as the recordings were used to identify inmates when calling.
“I was sentenced to natural life without any possibility of parole,” Harrington said. “I wanted them to know that I would soon be out of that situation and go home with them.”
And in April 2020, Harrington was released from prison after the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit determined he was wrongfully convicted of the murder of a man in Inkster.
Harrington went on to become a free man from prison and a life of giving, using money from his own pocket and securing donations to offer free coats and food to those in need as well as toys for his children.
Standing side by side with several other men, Harrington told 7 Action News Thursday: “I was taught as a young child to let go of anger and bitterness, like wrongfully blaming us. Was gone. You have to fight it with love.” Who were also wrongfully convicted in Wayne County.
The men are part of what Harrington calls a “village”—a collection of laymen, non-profit organizations, corporations, and even a judge who helps children and their parents bring joy to the holidays. Is.
And together they set up a community center in Inkster to deliver thousands of presents to children for Christmas inside and outside.
This is the second annual toy giveaway Harrington is behind since he was released from prison. Two weeks ago, they organized a coat giveaway. And for Thanksgiving, it was free food for those who might not have enjoyed the holiday feast.
Harrington founded a non-profit to provide much-needed support to low-income communities such as Inkster and named his organization the Blessed and Much-Favoured Always to Remember Where Hope and Happiness Can Give. The idea was born – behind bars.
Harrington recalled a conversation he had with Kenneth Nixon, who was determined by the Wayne County CIU to be wrongfully convicted of the deadly firebombing in Detroit. Their conversation took place in the prison premises.
“It will be a blizzard,” Harrington said. “When we break free and do things like this we’ll just talk. It’s a surreal moment for us. We knew it would happen.”
“There are mothers and fathers out there who just couldn’t support their kids this year, and we made a way for that to happen,” Nixon said.
“It’s just a terrible feeling to have this freedom and be a part of it,” said Larry Smith, one of the 30 men the CIU has determined so far to have wrongfully convicted.
In February 2003, Harrington and his co-defendant George Clarke were indicted in the September 2002 murder of a man in Inkster.
“There was no evidence that Harrington and Clark knew each other beyond name or reputation,” according to the National Registry of Exonerations, which detailed the work of the Michigan Innocence Clinic at the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit.
“When I was convicted and everyone was like, ‘You’ve got a natural life and you’re talking about what you’re going to do when you get out of here. I never lost faith. Faith was the key to my whole situation.”
The men were granted relief because the CIU called police misconduct and the witness had given perjury.
The witness repeatedly said that he saw nothing, but the detective forced him to implicate Harrington and Clark. Other witnesses also claimed that they were threatened and coerced by the detective.
In the video player above, hear from others participating in Thursday’s toy giveaway and from one mother who said that without everyone’s generosity, her kids wouldn’t have much for Christmas.
Harrington said toy donations have been made possible by a number of companies and organizations such as Growth Works, Community First Tax Service in Southfield, Macy’s and ordinary people who have done the greatest things.
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