Man whose murder conviction was overturned 16 years after the killing of a Minneapolis high school student speaks for the first time

A man whose conviction was overturned for the murder of a Minneapolis teen 16 years ago spoke out for the first time Tuesday.

Edgar Barrientos-Quintana was found guilty in 2009, but earlier this year the Attorney General’s Conviction Review Division found compelling evidence of his innocence.

Barrientos-Quintana was released last week, but this is the first time he has shared the feeling of waiting for a life-changing moment like this.

Now a free man, he says he has never given up hope.

Barrientos-Quintana speaks after conviction vacated

“I just didn’t know when and that’s the problem. You know it’s going to happen, but the system is so slow,” Barrientos-Quintana said.

Barrientos-Quintana was serving a life sentence without parole for the murder of 18-year-old Roosevelt High School senior Jesse Mickelson. A judge threw out the 2009 murder conviction after finding defense counsel’s representation was flawed.

The judge added that the prosecution failed to disclose crucial evidence. The judge also added that the state’s “case was weak.” And that a lead MPD investigator provided partially “false testimony” that “could have influenced the verdict.”

That investigator, Thomas Gaiters, is now the department’s assistant chief – MPD Chief Brian O’Hara shared the following statement with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.

“I have come to know Assistant Chief Gaiters as a very dedicated and humble public servant. He is immensely qualified to serve as Assistant Chief of Community Trust and Engagement, and I am grateful that he continues to serve our residents on a daily basis. He has my full support.”

MPD also said, “Chief O’Hara has requested the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to review the investigative files and the BCA has agreed.”

A spokesperson for BCA confirmed that the state agency has agreed to investigate the file.

Regarding the Mickelson murder case, County Attorney Mary Moriarty said her office is in discussions with law enforcement about whether additional investigation would yield information that would be helpful to us.

Mickelson’s family supported the release, saying after the case that it couldn’t possibly have been him.

“I gave him a big hug and apologized even though he knows it’s not my fault. He lost many years to being wrongly convicted, and I just wanted to express my deepest condolences,” said Tina Rosebear, Mickelson’s sister.

The Minneapolis Police Department released a statement expressing concern that the conviction was overturned based on a review of old evidence and not new information.

MPD says they remain committed to holding Mickelson’s killer accountable.