Oklahoma city to pay over $7 million to cleared death row inmate who spent almost half a century in prison

Edmund, Okla. — An Oklahoma city has agreed to pay more than $7 million to a former death row inmate who was exonerated after nearly 50 years in prison, making him the longest-serving inmate to be declared innocent of a crime.

The Edmond City Council voted without comment on Monday to settle the lawsuit filed by Glynn Ray Simmons, 71, against the Oklahoma City suburb and a former police detective for $7.15 million.

"Mr. Simmons spent a tragic amount of time incarcerated for a crime he did not commit," his attorney, Elizabeth Wang, said in a statement. "Although he will never get that time back, this settlement with Edmond will allow him to move forward" with his life.