 Wylie (left) and Hoffert, c. 1963 | |
| Date | August 28, 1963 |
|---|---|
| Location | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Deaths | 2
|
| Suspects | George Whitmore Jr. |
| Convicted | Richard "Ricky" Robles |
The "Career Girls Murders" was the name given by the American media to the murders of Emily Hoffert and Janice Wylie, which occurred inside their apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City, on August 28, 1963.[1] George Whitmore Jr. was charged with this and other crimes, but he was later cleared.[2]
The actions of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) led Whitmore to be improperly accused of this and other crimes, including the murder of Minnie Edmonds and the attempted rape and assault of Elba Borrero. Whitmore was wrongfully incarcerated for 1,216 days—from his arrest on April 24, 1964, until his release on bond on July 13, 1966, and from the revocation of his bond on February 28, 1972, until his exoneration on April 10, 1973.[3] Whitmore's treatment by the authorities was cited as an example that led the United States Supreme Court to issue the guidelines known as the Miranda rights, with the Court calling Whitmore's case "the most conspicuous example" of police coercion in the country. The Court issued its 1966 ruling, establishing a set of protections for suspects—including the right to remain silent—in Miranda v. Arizona.[4]
- ^ "2 Girls Murdered In E. 88th St. Flat; 2 Girls are Slain in East Side Flat Calls Girl's Father Sets Time of Death Had Master's Degree". The New York Times. August 29, 1963. ISSN 0362-4331.
- ^ Oelsner, Lesley (April 11, 1973). "Whitmore Wins Freedom On Gold's New Evidence". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
- ^ "George A. Whitmore: A plethora of false confessions". Northwestern Law Bluhm Legal Clinic: Center on Wrongful Convictions. Northwestern University. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
- ^ Vitello, Paul (October 18, 2012). "George Whitmore Jr., 68; coerced confession was key factor in Miranda ruling". Boston Globe. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2016.