MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin will give more than $97,000 to the family of a man who died after he spent years fighting for money for the six years he spent wrongfully in prison.
Forest Shomberg spent six years in prison for the 2002 sexual assault of a University of Wisconsin-Madison student. He maintained his innocence and his conviction was overturned in 2009 based on new DNA evidence.
The state Claims Board unanimously denied Shomberg’s claim in December 2012. A circuit court in Eau Claire reversed that vote and said the board needed to compensate Shomberg.
Shomberg was found dead in a car in Madison two months after the circuit court ruling.
Shomberg had asked for $102,500. The claims board on Monday announced it was awarding $97,500.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.