A devastating house fire claimed his family and his freedom in 1999. After 24 years, Texas Tech School of Law has helped exonerate him.

Allison Clayton is the Deputy Director for the Innocence Project of Texas and Director of the Innocence Clinic in Texas Tech University’s School of Law. Allison trains future attorneys in appellate post-conviction litigation, meaning that she leads efforts to overturn wrongful convictions, like that of Garland “Butch” Martin. 

A house fire killed Martin’s wife and two children in 1999. He was convicted of three counts of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. After serving 24 years of that sentence, he was exonerated through the work of Clayton and third-year law students at Texas Tech.

He returns to Lubbock sometimes to visit Clayton and the clinic. Over the years, he has sent mementos for her to remember all they’ve overcome together, including letters, crafts from prison, the tattoo gun he made while incarcerated and the orange jumpsuit top he wore while serving his sentence.

The murder board displayed in Clayton’s office contains photos, names, sticky notes and colored yarn that connects suspects, witnesses and victims to the dates and places of a crime. 

Shelbi and Linzy, two of the law students who worked on Martin's case, made it to Midland in time to celebrate his release. Meanwhile, Butch’s sister Heather arrived at the courthouse to embrace Butch the day he was released on bond.

This process took years of hard work and dedication by third-year law students, like those pictured above. 

On May 22, the Court of Criminal Appeals issued its ruling that Martin’s conviction was overturned. Clayton traveled to Midland after seeing the order so she could deliver the good news in person. 

Martin visits and remembers the family he lost on that day – his wife Marcia and two kids Brady, 3, and Kristen, 1. Today, he can enjoy the simple pleasures of freedom. He lives in Midland where he can be close to his family and watch his nieces and nephews grow up.