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Who Is Jimmie Duncan? Man Released on Bail After 27 Years on Death Row
Jimmie Duncan had a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving when it was revealed in November 2025 that he had been granted bail after spending 27 years on death row.
Following the decision, Life & Style shares who Duncan is, what crime he was accused of committing and why he was released from death row.
Who Is Jimmie Duncan?
Duncan was previously found guilty of first-degree murder in 1998 after he was accused of raping and drowning his then-girlfriend Allison Layton Statham’s 23-month-old daughter, Haley Oliveaux, according to the Associated Press.
Why Was Jimmie Duncan’s Conviction Overturned?
In April 2025, Fourth Judicial District Court Judge Alvin Sharp threw out Duncan’s conviction after experts testified that the forensic evidence that originally put Duncan behind bars was “not scientifically defensible.”
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Additionally, the new evidence seemingly implied that Oliveaux’s death was a result of “accidental drowning.”
“The presumption is not great that he is guilty,” Sharp wrote in his letter that granted Duncan’s bail, according to the outlet. He cited the new evidence as grounds for his decision, as well as Duncan’s lack of prior criminal history.
Jimmie Duncan Has Been Released on Bail
Duncan was released on bail on November 26 after he posted a $150,000 bond. His release comes as the Louisiana Supreme Court continues to review his case.
While Duncan has not been officially exonerated for the crime, his legal team said in a statement that the judge’s ruling provided “clear and convincing evidence showing that Mr. Duncan is factually innocent.”
The legal team then added that Duncan being released on bail “marks a significant step forward for Mr. Duncan’s complete exoneration.”
Jimmie Duncan’s Ex-Girlfriend Believes He’s Innocent
During Duncan’s bail hearing, Statham said she believed Duncan wasn’t involved in her daughter’s death. Instead, she believed the young girl accidentally drowned in a bathtub, per the Associated Press.
She went on to say that she believed her daughter “wasn’t killed,” adding, “Haley died because she was sick.”
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What Evidence Was Found Against Jimmie Duncan?
Forensic dentist Michael West and pathologist Steven Hayne originally examined Oliveaux’s body while determining her cause of death.
A video of the examination revealed West was “forcibly pushing a mold of Mr. Duncan’s teeth into the child’s body — creating the bite marks” that were later used to convict Duncan, the suspect’s legal team said in a court filing.
During the original trial, a state-appointed expert testified that the bite marks on the child’s body matched Duncan’s. However, the expert was not aware of the method West used during the examination.
“The horror story that they put out and desecrated my baby’s memory makes me infuriated,” Statham said.
“I was not informed of anything that would have exonerated Mr. Duncan at all,” she continued. “Had I been then, things would have turned out a lot different for Mr. Duncan and all of our families.”
Prosecutors Are Still Seeking Death Penalty for Jimmie Duncan
As Duncan’s case is being looked into, the Associated Press reported that prosecutors are seeking to reinstate his conviction. The legal team argued that the 1994 grand jury indictment in his case was grounds for keeping him behind bars.
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