Marty Tankleff had just turned 17 when he was arrested for killing his parents, Seymour and Arlene Tankleff, in their home on Long Island, NY. Based on a dubious, unsigned "confession" extracted from him following hours of interrogation by a detective with a questionable background, Marty was convicted and sentenced to 50 years to life. After 17 years in prison, Marty's conviction was vacated by the New York State Appellate Division, Second Department, in December of 2007. On July 22, 2008, a judge signed off on a motion by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to dismiss all charges against Marty. A report is still pending from the NY State Investigation Commission, which is investigating Suffolk County law enforcement for its conduct in Marty's conviction.
Click here for a summary • Read more in the blog

Tankleff Tip Line: 718.570.7442

All calls strictly confidential, no name or phone number required. Marty's private investigator, Jay Salpeter, will review all leads. No information is too minor, as it may form a piece of a larger puzzle.

State Investigation Commission (SIC) Tip Line: 1.877.SIC.4NYS (742-4697)

NEWS, VIEWS & INFO

Read H.R. 2095, the "Restitution for the Exonerated Act of 2009" introduced in the NY House of Representatives

Marty files civil lawsuit

Watch an excerpt of Marty and Prof. Saul Kassin on 'Oprah' last October - click here

New book on Tankleff case on sale - click here for link at Amazon

SIC Report of 2008: Vindication or Whitewash? - click here

Holiday Greetings from Marty Tankleff - November 27, 2008- click here

Tankleff & Salpeter Announce Fortress Innocence Group

Marty thanks his supporters - read it here.

NY Times: "Perseverance and Chance led to Reversal in '88 Murders"

Marty Tankleff Testifies, Senator and Seemblyman apologize

Document Spotlight: The Truth is in There

Editorials

  • NY State Bar Association President Op-Ed: "Record Interrogations, Confessions" (2/25/08)
  • Newsday editorial: "Suffolk Right to use Videotape for Interrogations" (2/11/08)
  • Newsday editorial: "Next Act Begins in the Tankleff Drama" (1/20/08)
  • Newsday Op-Ed: "Justice Perverted - Tankleff Case Holds Echoes of Suffolk's Long History of Misconduct by Police, Prosecutors; Change may be Needed" (1/13/08)
  • NY Times editorial: "True and Untrue Confessions" (1/12/08)
  • Newsday op-ed: "Marty Tankleff Was the Key to His Release" (1/6/08)
  • Daily News editorial: "Find Tankleff Killers" (1/4/08)
  • Newsday editorial: "Spota Right to Drop Tankleff Charges" (1/4/08)
  • Newsday editorial: "Spitzer Should Pick Special Prosecutor to Look at Other Suspects in Murders" (1/2/08)
  • NY Times editorial: "Could Marty Tankleff Be the Next Jeffrey Deskovic?" (12/30/07)
  • Newsday Op-Ed by Bennet Gershman: "Tankleff Case Needs Special Prosecutor, not Spota" (12/30/07)

Watch Online

Tankleff Case Maps

False Confessions

  • One-fourth of wrongful convictions are based on false confessions. Read how false confessions happen, and why Marty's "confession" is false, here
  • Read why false confessions have been such a problem in Suffolk County here

CASE STATUS

CHARGES OFFICIALLY DROPPED (July 22, 2008) - Read more

ATTORNEY GENERAL WON'T RETRY MARTY TANKLEFF - Read more

ATTORNEY GENERAL EMPANELS GRAND JURY
To announce intentions on June 30th

Gov. Spitzer Appoints AG Cuomo Special Prosecutor in Tankleff Case (1/12/08)

DA Says He'll Drop all Charges and Call for Special Prosecutor. Read more (1/2/08)

NY State Announces Investigation of Suffolk County DA and Police for their Conduct in Marty's Conviction (12/29/07)

  • Read the NY Times article with the scoop on the new State Investigation Commission (SIC ) probe
  • Read our summary of the SIC's investigation of Suffolk County law enforcement in the 1980s
  • Read the scathing 1989 SIC Report
  • Pre-order a Tankleff DVD by the judge who blew the whistle on Suffolk corruption - details here

MARTY IS HOME! (12/27/07)

  • Read more and post your 'Welcome Home Marty' comment in the blog
  • Read Marty's Statement upon his release
  • Watch WCBS TV's report (1:35)
  • Watch the press conference following Marty's release (16:20)

Conviction Vacated, New Trial Ordered (12/21/07)