Wrongfully convicted Wilson man dies months after receiving pardon of innocence

A man pardoned for a murder he did not commit died this week.

Charles Ray Finch spent 43 years in prison for the murder of Richard Holloman in Wilson. Holloman was shot and killed during an attempted robbery of his Wilson grocery store. Finch was convicted in the incident and sentenced to death in 1976.

But in 2019, a federal appeals court tossed Finch's conviction — stating that he was denied a fair trial because of a flawed lineup law enforcement used to obtain an eyewitness identification of him as the suspected killer.

Finch was released from prison after prosecutors decided not to retry the case.

Finch suffered a stroke on June 7, 2021. Following the stroke, Rev. Anthony T. Spearman, state NAACP president, sent a series of texts to Gov. Roy Cooper's staff.

"I was so angry to know this 83 year old man suffered a mild stroke, which would lead to more strokes and would not be honored with a pardon on him," said Spearman.

Only on WRAL: Wrongfully-convicted man who spent 43 years in prison says Wilson County's reimbursement isn't enough

Cooper issued the pardon of innocence for Finch on June 16.

"Ray Finch - serving 43 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit - is actually a hero," said Spearman. "His family would not see him be honored as a hero."

The pardon made Finch eligible to receive $750,000 from the state.

Finch has previously sued Wilson County and received a $2 million settlement. In a prior interview with WRAL News, Finch said the money wouldn't replace the 43 years he lost.

"I don't feel like it's enough for the time I spent," he said. "It makes me want to still cry — how much time I spent in prison."

Finch's family told WRAL News they were having a tough time with his death and weren't available to talk on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Spearman said the work doesn't stop. Currently, he said he's pushing Cooper to pardon two other men whose convictions were overturned.