DALLAS — Editor's note: The video above details the story of Martin Lucio Santillan, who was wrongfully convicted for this 1997 shooting death.
A Dallas County grand jury has indicted a new suspect for the murder of a man outside of a Deep Ellum nightclub in 1997.
Damond Wittman was shot and killed at approximately 1:30 a.m. on July 14, 1997. For 25 years, Martin Lucio Santillan spent his life behind bars after being convicted for Wittman's death. In March, Santillan was freed after being proven innocent.
The grand jury has now indicted a new suspect, identified as 43-year-old Michael Edward Nevarez, for capital murder. Nevarez would have been 16 years old at the time of the shooting on July 14, 1997.
No DNA was ever linked to Santillan, but he was arrested and charged with capital murder. Santillan maintained his innocence, but the jury found him guilty in 1998, and he received a life sentence. Santillan was exonerated on March 22 and walked out of the Dallas court room a free man.
District Attorney John Creuzot said, "Because of the advancements in DNA technology, we are here today."
He also showed gratitude for Centurion Ministries. Creuzot said, "We all owe them a tremendous debt for sticking with this and keeping this in front of us."
In addition to clearing Santillan's name, Creuzot said the new DNA evidence linked them to a suspect, later identified by the indictment as Nevarez. Officials told WFAA about Nevarez's arrest in Colorado Springs, but said at the time they would not disclose his name because he was a juvenile at the time of the offense unless he is charged as an adult.
The Dallas County grand jury filed the capital murder indictment on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
More Texas headlines: