HONOLULU (AP) – Gordon Cordeiro, who was exonerated after spending 30 years in prison for a murder he always asserted he did not commit, made a poignant visit to his mother’s gravesite in Hawaii as one of his first acts of freedom. Following a judge's ruling that released him based on new DNA evidence, which overturned his conviction for the 1994 shooting of Timothy Blaisdell on the island of Maui, Cordeiro took time to pay his respects to his late mother, Paulette Cordeiro.

In a videoconference interview with The Associated Press, Cordeiro reflected on the emotional day he regained his freedom. Paulette died in September 1994, just weeks before her son’s arrest in connection with Blaisdell's murder. “Thanks for looking over me,” Cordeiro recalled saying at her grave, expressing gratitude for the support he felt from her spirit throughout his incarceration. A photo shared by his sister captured the moment, showing Cordeiro kneeling at the gravesite with a lei given to him upon his release, which adorned the headstone inscribed with the words, “You were the wind beneath our wings.”

During his three decades in prison, Cordeiro frequently thought of his mother, who succumbed to ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, at the age of 49. He reminisced about being there for her as she battled the illness. At the time of Blaisdell’s shooting, Cordeiro was at home building shelves with his mother. After enjoying a steak dinner and visiting her grave, he celebrated his freedom with family at his father’s house but found himself restless and unable to sleep, a testament to the emotional weight of his experience. Cordeiro expressed plans to visit more family graves and to go shopping at Costco, embracing a sense of normalcy despite the many changes he noted in Maui since his incarceration.

The changes in Maui were striking to Cordeiro, particularly the devastation of Lahaina, which was destroyed by a wildfire in 2023. Furthermore, he remarked on the shift in communication habits, observing that people are often absorbed in their phones. Having entered prison with just a pager, he now owns a smartphone but admitted, “I’m not staring at it yet,” noting the adjustment involved in navigating the digital age.

In court, the atmosphere was charged with emotion when Judge Kirstin Hamman announced the vacating of Cordeiro’s sentence, a moment that elicited gasps and cries from those present. The ruling was based on new evidence, including DNA test results that indicated he was likely innocent, prompting Cordeiro’s release. Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin expressed intentions to appeal the decision and to seek to impose bail requirements on Cordeiro’s release.

Cordeiro’s path to justice has been fraught with difficulties. His initial trial resulted in a hung jury, with only one juror voting for conviction. Yet, during a subsequent trial, he was found guilty of murder, robbery, and attempted murder, receiving a life sentence without parole. New DNA testing on evidence from the crime scene ultimately excluded him as a source of DNA found on Blaisdell’s body. Additionally, DNA from an unidentified person was discovered on the inside pockets of Blaisdell’s jeans, leading to the judge’s conclusion that these developments could significantly affect the outcome of a new trial.

Expressing gratitude for the advancements in DNA technology, Cordeiro remarked, “Thank God for new DNA. Technology is awesome.” His videoconference with the AP marked the first time he used Zoom and an iPad outside the confines of prison, a testament to his adjustment to a new life.

Support has begun to flow in for Cordeiro as he adjusts to his newfound freedom. Ian Schweitzer, who was released in 2023 after serving more than 20 years for a crime he insists he did not commit, has reached out to offer guidance. The two men had crossed paths in prison and had tracked each other’s cases over the years, fostering a camaraderie rooted in their shared experiences.

Looking ahead, Cordeiro expressed intentions to engage in activities that ground him in his community. He plans to focus on fixing cars and assisting with his father’s home, hinting at a desire to “maybe give back to the community a little bit,” as he navigates the challenges of reintegration into a world that has changed dramatically during his absence.