Former Las Vegas inmate receives $29.5 million settlement after police fabricated murder evidence
Kirstin Blaise Lobato was awarded $29.5 million after a court found Las Vegas police had planted evidence that led to her wrongful 2001 murder conviction.
At 18, Kirstin Blaise Lobato was arrested for the 2001 murder of Duran Bailey, a crime marked by severe beating and genital mutilation. Detectives from the Las Vegas Metro Police Department are accused of planting evidence, twisting her remarks, and falsely implying a confession, resulting in a 13-to-35-year sentence. The Nevada Supreme Court dismissed the charges in 2017, leading to her release in 2018 and the issuance of a Certificate of Innocence.
In a civil suit, Lobato named officers Thomas Thowsen and James LaRochelle, alleging they framed her. A U.S. District Court ruled in her favor, ordering $34 million in damages, which was later settled for $29.5 million, with the two officers each paying $10,000. The settlement concludes the prolonged dispute and allows Lobato to move forward.
Why it matters
The case highlights police misconduct and the massive financial repercussions of wrongful convictions.
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