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Kwil is the 40th person whose case was dropped in relation to disgraced Chicago police detective Reynaldo Guevara

Saturday, April 15, 2023 12:23

Richard Kwil leaves Pontiac Firday after serving 23 years in prison

PONTIAC, Hospital (WLS) — Richard Kwil left the Pontiac Correctional Center on Friday after serving 23 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit.

Kwil was acquitted of the charges against him Thursday. After leaving prison, he stopped for a long-awaited meal outside the prison walls with his daughter and son-in-law.

RELATED: Man framed for murder by disgraced Chicago detective released after more than 24 years in prison

“It hasn't hit me yet, it hasn't hit me yet,” said Kwil. “Realized I was out.”

Kwil is the 40th person to have a case dismissed in relation to disgraced Chicago police detective Reynaldo Guevara.

Kwil said he plans to file a lawsuit against the city of Chicago.

“I want them to pay for ruining my life,” said Kwil. “You can't get anything back but you can be more comfortable from here,”

RELATED: 11 exonere filed federal lawsuits against former Chicago detective for forcing false confessions

“It doesn't feel like he's here,” said Kwil's daughter, Aixa Hernandez. “I don't know. It's very new.”

Kwil, now 43 years old, misses most of his son and daughter's life.

“We can only move forward and stay positive,” Hernandez said. “We can't change all that lost time.”

Kwil creates art and is trained as a gardener while in prison. He was eager to get an ID and get to work. However, the first thing he wanted to do was to become acquainted with the family that supported him.

“I will spend (the rest of my life) with my daughter, her husband and the kids.”

Kwil communicated with his grandchildren while in prison, but will now be seeing them in person for the first time.

“They would talk on the phone and now they could finally see who they were talking to and meet him or her,” Hernandez said. “That's very interesting.”

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