A man named Gordon Cordeiro has been released from prison after serving 30 years for a crime he insists he did not commit. His conviction for the 1994 murder of Timothy Blaisdell on Maui was overturned thanks to new DNA evidence that came to light recently.
After his release from the Maui Community Correctional Center, Cordeiro shared his initial thoughts about re-entering society. He expressed surprise at how connected everyone seems to be, noting, "Everybody is looking at their phones." In his first interview via Zoom since leaving prison, he praised the advancements in technology, saying, "Thank God for new DNA. Technology is awesome."
One of the first things Cordeiro did after gaining his freedom was visit his mother’s grave. He had often thought about her while incarcerated. His mother, Paulette, passed away from ALS in September 1994, just a month before he was arrested. At her grave, he expressed gratitude, saying, "Thanks for looking over me. Keeping me safe."
Cordeiro’s release came after Judge Kirstin Hamman ruled that new evidence could significantly change the outcome of a new trial. Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin has announced plans to appeal the decision and seek bail for Cordeiro.
Cordeiro’s first trial ended in a hung jury, with only one juror voting for conviction. Despite this, he was later found guilty of murder, robbery, and attempted murder, receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Since his release, Cordeiro has enjoyed simple pleasures, such as having a steak dinner with family at his father’s house. He also visited more relatives’ graves and planned to go shopping at Costco. While he feels that life is returning to normal, he noted changes in Maui, particularly the destruction caused by a wildfire in 2023.
As Cordeiro adjusts to life outside prison, he reflects on the past and looks forward to the future, grateful for the chance to start anew.