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A Kentucky man, who endured over two decades in prison for a murder he insists was based on fabricated evidence, has been awarded more than $24 million. A jury concluded he was wrongfully convicted in what prosecutors once labeled as a “satanic” killing.
Jeffrey Clark was just 21 when he and his friend, Keith Hardin, were convicted for the 1992 stabbing of 19-year-old Rhonda Sue Warford. Her body was discovered in a field in Meade County, days after she vanished from her Louisville home.
During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the murder had a ritualistic motive, relying on witness testimonies and forensic evidence. Clark later contested these claims, arguing in court that the evidence was false or misleading.
After serving more than 22 years, Clark’s case took a turn when new DNA testing discredited the critical evidence that had led to his conviction. His conviction was overturned in 2016, and by 2018, all charges against him were dropped.
Following the verdict, Mr. Clark posed with his legal team from Loevy + Loevy, celebrating the justice served. The team included Melinda Ek, Elliot Slosar, Amy Staples, Jimmer Dudley, Stephany Janssen, and Julia Quinn.
“I finally feel like I am able to wake up from a 34-year nightmare,” Clark said after the verdict.
In a civil lawsuit, Clark accused investigators of engaging in misconduct to secure his conviction, including fabricating statements, pressuring witnesses and withholding evidence that could have supported his innocence.
According to the complaint, detectives attributed statements to Hardin suggesting the killing was part of a ritual, despite no independent evidence to support that claim.
The lawsuit also alleges authorities relied on testimony from a jailhouse informant who received benefits in exchange for cooperating, while failing to disclose information that could have undermined his credibility.
An ex-girlfriend’s testimony portraying Clark as involved in satanic practices was also called into question, with the lawsuit alleging her statements conflicted with earlier accounts.
Investigators also failed to pursue another potential suspect who had allegedly confessed to the killing, according to the complaint.
Rhonda Warford, a 19-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, whose 1992 killing remains unsolved. (Justice for Rhonda Sue Warford Facebook page)
The case later drew attention from the Innocence Project, which said advances in DNA testing ultimately discredited the prosecution’s core forensic evidence.
Testing showed that hair presented at trial as consistent with Hardin did not belong to him, Clark or the victim. Additional testing confirmed that blood found on a handkerchief, which prosecutors had tied to alleged ritual activity, belonged to Hardin, consistent with his account at trial.
The organization also pointed to evidence that a jailhouse informant attempted to coordinate false testimony and that investigators did not follow up on another potential suspect.
Clark’s legal team has also highlighted the role of the lead detective in the case, who was later convicted in an unrelated matter involving perjury and evidence tampering, further raising questions about the original investigation.
Rhonda Sue Warford was found stabbed to death in Meade County, Kentucky, in 1992. (Justice for Rhonda Sue Warford Facebook page)
The lawsuit further alleges investigators adjusted the timeline of Warford’s death to fit their theory of the case. Authorities initially believed the killing occurred days after she disappeared, when Clark and Hardin had alibis, but later focused on an earlier timeframe that weakened those alibis, according to the complaint.
A jury ultimately found in Clark’s favor, awarding him $24.35 million in compensatory damages along with additional punitive damages.
Meade County officials said the verdict is under review.
“A verdict was rendered … and it is under evaluation as to our next course of action,” the county said in a statement, adding it has no further comment pending legal review.
Despite Clark’s exoneration and the multimillion-dollar award, Warford’s killing remains unsolved, and no one has been convicted in the case.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office for comment.