Racine Murder Case on Hold; A Suspect Mistakenly Released

(WGTD)---A man who’d been arrested once in connection with the death of a food pantry volunteer in Racine is being sought again after he was mistakenly released from jail.

Murder and robbery charges against 28 year-old Joseph Jackson were dismissed earlier this year after a lab analysis of DNA recovered from the crime scene threw a measure of doubt into the case.

While the most serious charges were dismissed, bail jumping charges against Jackson remained. A cash bond of $5,000 was ordered, but a court clerk mistakenly entered it as a signature bond, and Jackson was released.

Jackson, who lists a Joliet, Illinois address, failed to show up for a court appearance in Racine on Monday. A warrant was issued.

A prosecutor says the two-and-a-half year-old murder case is on hold until more questions about the DNA can be answered.

The victim, 41 year-old Michael Hardy, was a frequent volunteer at the Harvest Outreadh Food Pantry in Racine.

Hardy’s body was discovered in his apartment after other pantry volunteers became suspicious and asked police to perform a welfare check.

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