Serving a life sentence for a deadly robbery in South St. Paul in 2002, Philip Vance has always insisted he is innocent. Officers from the corrupt and disbanded Metro Gang Strike Force were the investigators of Vance’s case and his 2004 conviction was prosecuted based on testimonies which have since been recanted.
After covering a press conference by the Free Philip Vance team in December 2024, Unicorn Riot has published several reports and videos bringing further context to Vance’s case, including a slew of documents and an analysis.
Where the case stands now: Vance is currently incarcerated in MCF-Rush City awaiting Minnesota’s Conviction Review Unit (CRU) to publish their final report. Vance’s legal team submitted a new postconviction relief petition in late February to which a judge granted the Dakota County Attorney’s Office a delay to review the petition until the CRU publishes.
Find all of our Philip Vance coverage on this page in order of oldest published first.
Find videos and audio from Philip Vance at the bottom of this page and see all of the documents filed by Vance’s legal team in our document vault.
Community Demands Exoneration for Philip Vance on 22nd Anniversary of Murder – Jan. 2025
Source Claims Philip Vance is Wrongfully Convicted, Knows the Real Killer – Feb. 2025
Done Waiting on CRU, Philip Vance Readies to File Legal Petition for Wrongful Conviction – Feb. 2025
Philip Vance’s Postconviction Filing Kicked Back by Prosecutors to Wait For CRU Report – March 2025
Broken Scales: Seeking Justice for Philip Vance – March 2025
Philip Vance wrote a letter to Unicorn Riot in 2023 when he was in MCF-Stillwater and explained his case as such:
“In 2003 an informant for the now-dismantled Metro Gang Strike Force was asked to wear a wire and distribute incriminating conversation with me that connected me to a murder two weeks prior. The CI was also asked to purchase a firearm with the hopes it would be the weapon used in the murder.
A year later I was charged with 1st degree murder. Eight months later at trial, this CI told a jury that she purchased a gun from me that tested to NOT be the murder weapon. She also testified that I made statements that I had in fact shot someone two weeks prior “over south” (the victim was killed in South St. Paul). Five to six MGSF/ATF/SPPD officers testified also that they were listening/recording these two meetings and that they heard the same incriminating statements. But because of the music where we were, they were unable to record the conversation???
This testimony, along with the testimony of one of the police’s sister and six jail house informants, I was convicted and sentenced to a life sentence. 17 years later, the CI that the MGSF used, now admits her testimony, as well as the officer’s testimony was false.
She now says they told her what to say and that in return they dismissed charges she was facing, as well as funded her relocation from Minnesota. Two of the six jailhouse informants have recanted that their testimony was false at trial also. Time reductions were the incentive. A female witness testified that she was threatened to testify, so she lied. Those recantations are ALL significant because in 2010, Andrew Luger and John Egelhof launched a federal investigation in the Metro Gang Strike Force and found that as a unit they were corrupt and “rogue.” “Criminal” was even used to describe their actions. Those SAME officers testified at my trial and lied. Those same officers coerced, threatened, and manipulated witnesses to lie against me, which led to my wrongful conviction and incarceration. I’ve been incarcerated now 20-plus years.”
Philip Vance, says he was wrongfully sentenced to life in prison for a murder he didn’t commit
VIDEOS
Advocate for Philip Vance Says He’s Wrongfully Convicted of Murder, Reads a Letter From Prison [Vimeo / YouTube]
Calls to Free Philip Vance From ‘Wrongful Conviction’ [Vimeo / YouTube]
Press Conference to Free Philip Vance on 22nd Anniversary of Murder [Vimeo / YouTube]
Jason Sole of the Free Philip Vance Team Demands Vance be Freed From ‘Wrongful Conviction’ [Vimeo / YouTube]
Free Philip Vance Team Share Memories of the Metro Gang Strike Force [Vimeo / YouTube]
Philip Vance Calls From Prison on Anniversary of Murder That He’s ‘Wrongfully Convicted of’ [Vimeo / YouTube]
Philip Vance Speaks from Prison about Hope and How He Wants to ‘Be a Beacon of Light’ [Vimeo / YouTube]
Philip Vance Speaks About Being Retaliated Against for Large Prison Protest [Vimeo / YouTube]
Demands to Free Philip Vance From ‘Wrongful Conviction’ on 22nd Anniversary of Murder [Vimeo / YouTube]
AUDIO OF PHILIP VANCE
Dec. 22, 2024
Philip Vance calls into press conference on 22nd anniversary of murder:
Philip Vance on exonerations and hope:
Philip Vance on his release from prison:
Philip Vance on his transfer to MCF-Rush City:
Unicorn Riot will continue to follow Philip Vance’s case and will provide updates to this page as needed.
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