Mom’s Children Admit They Lied To Convict Her Of Murder
In 1994, Dolores Macias’ children testified at her trial that she intentionally drowned their 4-year-old cousin in the family swimming pool. She was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison.
Thirteen years later, Macias’ children have now recanted their testimony and told Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Jan Harris that the death actually resulted when one of them, also then age 4, accidentally held the victim’s head under the water too long during horseplay. They now say their paternal grandmother manipulated them into testifying against their mother. There was no other corroboration of the crime.
The new evidence was offered in support of a motion for a new trial for Macias. Judge Harris did not immediately rule upon the motion, and has requested further testimony.
There are some questions as to the reliability of the new evidence, including claims that it is the result of threats by Dolores Macias’ family.
Macias is represented by the California Innocence Project at California Western School of Law, in San Diego. Similar projects across the nation have helped to obtain new trials, and freedom, for dozens of wrongfully convicted criminals, some of them on death row.