Charges are dropped; man is set free after 7 months in jail

11/7/2000

After nearly seven months of telling police he didn't kill his ex-girlfriend and after DNA tests supported his story, Izell Brown was released from the Lucas County jail yesterday when prosecutors dismissed the charges against him.

But Jeffrey Lingo, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, said Mr. Brown's release had more to do with a lack of evidence than it did a belief in the Detroit man's innocence.

He said another indictment would be issued if new evidence is discovered.

Mr. Brown said he's not concerned about being charged again in the murder of Chrishana Logan.

“I told them the first day they locked me down that I wasn't the one that did it, and they told me I was lying,” Mr. Brown said. “It took me seven months, but I'm glad it happened.”

Mr. Brown, 29, had been charged with the aggravated murder and attempted rape of Ms. Logan, 19, who was found dead April 15 in the living room of her upstairs duplex at 24711/2 Robinwood Ave. Mr. Brown was arrested the same day and was in jail until his release yesterday. Prosecutors dismissed the charges at a hearing before Judge Ruth Ann Franks.

Don Cameron, Mr. Brown's lawyer, said DNA tests showed semen taken from Ms. Logan did not match his client. Mr. Brown took a lie-detector test, and Mr. Cameron said he “passed it with flying colors” about three weeks ago. Mr. Lingo said evidence indicated that Mr. Brown killed Ms. Logan.

“There is evidence to put him at the crime scene, evidence that he may have been involved,” the assistant prosecutor said. “But there also is powerful evidence that contradicts that, so we're looking for further evidence to substantiate his involvement in the crime.”

Mr. Brown seemed resigned that he would never be able to make police and prosecutors believe his innocence.

“If it wasn't for the investigator and my lawyers doing what they had to do to find out I was innocent, I'd probably still be in [jail],” Mr. Brown said.