Judge Releases Veteran Murder Investigation Reopened

Man convicted of murdering college student set free amid questions over guilt
Los Angeles Times
Richard Winston
June 23, 2016

Raymond Lee Jennings, right, flanked by his attorney, Jeffrey Ehrlich, was ordered released from state prison after prosecutors express doubts about his guilt. Jennigs was convicted in the 2000 murder of college student Michelle O'Keefe. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

An Iraq war veteran convicted in the 2000 slaying of college student Michelle O’Keefe was ordered released from state prison Thursday after prosecutors express doubts about his guilt.

"The people no longer have confidence in the conviction," Los Angeles Deputy Dist Atty. Bobby Grace told a judge, who ordered Raymond Lee Jennings released.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William Ryan recommended that Jennings be released immediately from the courthouse but ordered electronic monitoring for Jennings because the case against him has not been dismissed.

Jennings, who worked as a security guard at the Palmdale parking lot where O’Keefe was found, smiled broadly as entered the courtroom.

"He was happy to know, after 11 years, his ordeal is over," his attorney, Jeffrey Ehrlich, said outside court.
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