Joseph “Joey” Watkins, a resident of Rome, Georgia, has filed a lawsuit seeking damages after spending 22 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Watkins was exonerated and released in September 2023 after being wrongly convicted in the 2000 shooting death of Isaac Dawkins.

The lawsuit, filed in May in Georgia, alleges that investigators fabricated a false case against Watkins, using falsified statements from informants and concealing crucial evidence. According to his attorney, Sonya Pfeiffer, Watkins has been subjected to relentless public scrutiny and attacks on his innocence even after his release, compounding the trauma of his wrongful imprisonment. During his two decades behind bars, Watkins endured substandard nutrition, inadequate medical care, and rampant violence, the lawsuit claims. The suit argues that his wrongful conviction was a direct result of the defendants’ misconduct, including negligence and deliberate malfeasance in the investigation.

The defendants named in the suit include Floyd County and individual officers from various local and state police units who are accused of gross carelessness and potentially malicious actions during the original investigation. Watkins is seeking substantial damages to compensate for the immense suffering he endured, including the physical and emotional injuries sustained during his incarceration and the unjust punishments he faced.

The lawsuit alleges multiple violations of his constitutional rights throughout the investigation and trial process. The case is expected to draw significant attention to the issues of police misconduct, wrongful convictions, and the long-term impact of incarceration on innocent individuals.