A man who was framed for murder through social media has been set free, and Indiana police say they now have the real murderer in custody.
On April 14, police were called to check on Wilma Robertson in Hanover, Indiana. Inside, police found the 35-year-old woman stabbed to death.
Police say Robertson's killer was Nigel "Nati Bang" Thomas and that Thomas launched an elaborate scheme to cover his tracks and frame someone else for the crime.
Police allege that the 34-year-old Thomas sought to frame Shawn Bailey for the murder by creating numerous social media accounts under Bailey's name. Then, after the killing, Thomas sent out messages to relatives of Robertson pretending to be Bailey and admitting to the murder.
The ruse briefly worked, as police initially arrested Bailey, 33, of Louisville, Kentucky, on April 15. Police dismissed the charges on April 25 based on accumulating evidence, including a DNA analysis that ruled Bailey out as a suspect.
"The criminal justice system is ultimately a search for the truth. Multiple agencies across three states worked tirelessly in their pursuit of all investigative leads to uncover the crimes of Nigel Thomas and clear Shawn Bailey", said Jefferson County Prosecutor David Sutter.
