Upon his release from prison after serving 30 years for a crime he always maintained he had no part in, Gordon Cordeiro first visited his mother’s graveyard in Hawaii, according to a report.

In his first interview post-freedom, Cordeiro recounted his first day outside, which included going to his mother’s gravesite, visiting his father’s residence, and noticing the changes in the now-different Maui. He also mentioned his adjustment to modern technology, like smartphones, which were non-existent during his incarceration.

Cordeiro was convicted in the 1994 shooting of Timothy Blaisdell, but new DNA evidence subsequently led to the overturning of his conviction. Despite the changes in Maui, including the destruction of the historic town of Lahaina by wildfire, Cordeiro expressed that everything felt “normal” to him. He also spoke about his deep thoughts for his mother, who had passed away from ALS in September 1994, just months before his arrest.

Cordeiro’s first trial had ended in a hung jury, and he had been caring for his mother along with his siblings when Blaisdell was killed. This alibi was significant as the new DNA evidence later supported his claim that he had no involvement in the murder.

Maui county prosecuting attorney Andrew Martin is planning to appeal and seek bail for Cordeiro’s release. Cordeiro expressed his gratitude for the new DNA evidence, calling it, “an awesome thing.”

In his conversation, Cordeiro discussed his tentative plans to assist with his father’s house and possibly contribute to the community. This reflects a man longing for normalcy after a prolonged period of isolation.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/24/hawaii-man-freed-gordon-cordeiro