A Tennessee judge on Thursday vacated rape and murder convictions of two people — one of whom died in prison — in the death of a 4-year-old girl more than 30 years ago.

Joyce Watkins and Charlie Dunn were convicted in 1988 based on medical evidence at trial that has since been debunked, according to a Thursday order by Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Angelita Blackshear Dalton. In addition, the trial prosecutor told the jury that Watkins had washed bedsheets in order to destroy evidence of rape, an assertion that was simply untrue, Dalton wrote.

Watkins and Dunn were sentenced to life for murder and 60 years for aggravated rape, with the two sentences to be served concurrently. Dunn died in prison in January 2015. His estate filed the petition to reopen his case on his behalf. Watkins was released on parole in October 2015 and has been subject to strict rules as a registered sex offender. FULL STORY HERE