The body of Dr Sam Sheppard, inspiration for the film and TV series The Fugitive, was exhumed yesterday in Columbus, Ohio. The ceremony was overseen by his son, who is trying to prove Dr Sheppard's innocence in the 1954 beating to death of his wife. Mr Sam Reese Sheppard (50), accompanied by a few family friends, offered prayers as his father's concrete-encased casket was hauled from its grave.
Tissue samples from the body will be taken to compare his genetic make-up with DNA extracted from blood stains found at the original murder scene, as part of the son's pursuit of a wrongful imprisonment suit against the state.
Although Dr Sheppard contended the villain was a bushy-haired intruder, the Cleveland osteopath was convicted of killing his pregnant, 31-year-old wife and sentenced to life in prison.
The US Supreme Court ruled later that the trial was tainted by excessive press coverage which created a "circus atmosphere". After a retrial Dr Sheppard was released from prison in 1966. He died of liver disease brought on by heavy drinking in 1970.