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Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
National
Emmanuel Camarillo

Man wrongfully imprisoned 30 years sues city, alleges he was framed by detectives

Prison Cook County
Francisco “Frankie” Benitez speaks to the media in September following a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse when the Cook County state’s attorney’s office announced it would be dropping charges in his case. His lawsuit names the city of Chicago, two detectives and an assistant state’s attorney as defendants. (Pat Nabong/Sun-Times (file))

A man wrongfully imprisoned for more than three decades has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Chicago, alleging police detectives framed him for a 1989 double murder in Humboldt Park.

Francisco “Frankie” Benitez, 53, was released in August after a judge vacated his murder conviction in the fatal shootings of Prudencio Cruz and William Sanchez, both 14. Cook County prosecutors dropped murder charges against Benitez in September.

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