Justice Delayed but not Denied: Bintz Brothers Exonerated After 24 Years with the Help of IGG

Robert Bintz and David Bintz

This blog is an update to David Gurney’s previous blog post: New lead in 1987 Wisconsin murder of Sandra Lison could produce third IGG exoneration

In June of 2023, the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center was tasked with identifying the contributor of a DNA profile developed from blood and semen found on the dress of Sandra Lison. Ms. Lison had been kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered while working at the Good Times Bar in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1987. 

Sandra Lison

When our IGG bootcamp students produced a new lead in the case in July of 2023 and identified William Hendricks as the possible suspect, we knew there might still be a long road ahead. The State of Wisconsin would need to agree the lead was significant, exhume William Hendricks’ remains, compare Hendricks’ DNA directly to the crime-scene DNA, and, if he was a DNA match – agree to vacate the convictions of Robert and David Bintz. 

Thankfully, the state was cooperative, and the remains of William Hendricks were exhumed in May of 2024. Due to the age and condition of the remains, there was some difficulty in developing a suitable DNA profile. To expedite the process, one of our generous donors covered the cost of testing at a private lab, who developed a full profile. An analysis by the Wisconsin State Lab demonstrated overwhelming statistical evidence that the previously unidentified crime-scene DNA came from Hendricks. 

The exhumation scene

Recognizing the significance of the DNA result, the State of Wisconsin conducted a renewed investigation of the case.

DNA report comparing Hendricks’ DNA to crime scene DNA

On September 24th, we were scheduled to present this case at the International Symposium on Human Identification with Jim Mayer of the Great North Innocence Project. Although we had hoped for a conclusion prior to our presentation, the case remained in limbo with a hearing scheduled in October and the Bintz brothers still in prison for a crime they did not commit.

Unbeknownst to us, just hours before our presentation, Jim had received a phone call that changed the course of the case entirely. On stage, he shocked everyone in the room (including his co-presenters) by sharing that the state’s investigation revealed additional evidence of Hendricks’ guilt. All parties now agree that two innocent men have been sitting in prison for twenty-five years. An expedited hearing was called, and the next day, the State of Wisconsin formally acknowledged the Bintz brothers’ innocence, and a judge granted relief. They will be released shortly.

David Gurney, Jim Mayer and Cairenn Binder at ISHI 2024 shortly after it was revealed that the Bintz Brothers’ exoneration was imminently forthcoming.

When Jim Mayer of the Great North Innocence Project initially broke the news of Hendricks’ identification through IGG to his client, Robert Bintz’s first reaction was relief that his daughter would finally know that he did not commit this horrible crime. After twenty-five years, and with the help of IGG, the truth has finally been revealed, and a measure of justice has been given to all of the victims in this case. 

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