Dannette Adkins

Man cleared in rape case by DNA evidence now charged in girlfriend's slaying

December 28, 2008|By Azam Ahmed

Exonerated of rape by DNA evidence in 2006, Marlon Pendleton was pardoned in October by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, clearing the way for him to receive $140,000 for his wrongful imprisonment.

But the good news didn't last long.

Last week, Pendleton, who spent almost 10 years locked up for a rape he didn't commit, was charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend, Dannette Adkins, 45. Her body was discovered in his sister's Hammond home, where Pendleton was living.

Pendleton is being held without bail at the Lake County Jail in Indiana. His criminal record also includes a separate rape conviction.

Pendleton was featured in a Tribune article this year about the heavy backlog of pardon applications sitting on the governor's desk, some that had been sitting for years. Since the story, the governor has pardoned more than 40 people convicted of felonies, including Pendleton, and a handful of other wrongfully convicted people.

Other news:

Her body was discovered in his sister's Hammond home, where Pendleton was living.

Pendleton is being held without bail at the Lake County Jail in Indiana. His criminal record also includes a separate rape conviction. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-update-pardon-bd-28-dec28,0,5479899.story

A Hammond man was charged with murder in connection with the death of a neighbor found unconscious in his home.

Dannette Adkins, 45, died at a local hospital from blunt force trauma, said the Lake County coroner's office, which ruled her death a homicide.

Police said Adkins and the suspect were romantically involved, and evidence inside the man's car led to his arrest shortly after paramedics transported her from his house to the hospital. http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2008/12/21/news/lake_county/docc106fb1f94c7150f862575260012e200.txt