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Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
National
Matthew Hendrickson

Murder charges dropped after man imprisoned 30 years: ‘I’m not bitter’

Murder Prison Pat Nabong Cook County SunTimes
Francisco “Frankie” Benitez, speaks to the media Tuesday after a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse where the Cook County state’s attorney’s office announce it drop charges in his murder case. (Pat Nabong/Sun-Times)

A visit to his sister in Arkansas. A vacation with his mother to Disney World. Catching a Chicago Bears game.

Francisco “Frankie” Benitez said he wanted to do all those things and more with his freedom after Cook County prosecutors announced Tuesday they were dropping the charges that had kept him behind bars for three decades.

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