Michael Nevarez Sentenced to 21 Years for 1997 Deep Ellum Murder That Wrongfully Imprisoned Innocent Man for 25 Years
DALLAS, Texas — Nearly three decades after a 21-year-old man was shot to death outside a Deep Ellum nightclub, the man responsible has pleaded guilty to murder and been sentenced to 21 years in prison, closing a case that also resulted in an innocent man spending more than 25 years behind bars.
Michael Nevarez, 45, pleaded guilty this week to the July 14, 1997, murder of Damond Wittman, 21. A jury subsequently sentenced Nevarez to 21 years in prison, according to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office.
Nevarez was 16 years old when the shooting occurred.
The case gained renewed attention after Martin Santillan, who was convicted of Wittman's murder in 1998, was exonerated in 2023 following advances in DNA testing.
Victim Shot Outside Deep Ellum Nightclub in 1997
On July 14, 1997, Wittman was standing with friends in a parking lot outside a nightclub in Dallas' Deep Ellum entertainment district when a man approached and asked him for a cigarette.
Wittman gave the man a cigarette, but the encounter turned violent when the man pulled out a gun and demanded money.
Wittman attempted to fight off the gunman but was shot multiple times.
He was transported to Baylor University Medical Center, where he later died.
Innocent Man Convicted and Sentenced to Life in Prison
In 1998, Martin Santillan, then 24, was convicted of capital murder in connection with Wittman's death and sentenced to life in prison.
Santillan maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration, but his conviction remained in place for more than 25 years.
In 2021, the Dallas County District Attorney's Office Conviction Integrity Unit, under District Attorney John Creuzot, reopened the investigation and submitted evidence for additional DNA testing using newer technology.
The testing identified DNA profiles belonging to unknown individuals on a Dallas Stars jersey recovered near the crime scene.
Investigators continued examining the evidence in partnership with the Dallas Police Department and with assistance from the Colorado Springs Police Department.
The investigation eventually led authorities to Nevarez.
Martin Santillan Exonerated After More Than 25 Years
In March 2023, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals recognized Santillan's actual innocence.
The Dallas County District Attorney's Office subsequently moved to dismiss the case against him.
Santillan was exonerated after spending more than 25 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.
Nevarez Pleads Guilty, Receives 21-Year Sentence
Following the renewed investigation, Nevarez pleaded guilty to Wittman's murder this week.
A jury sentenced him to 21 years in prison, nearly 29 years after the fatal shooting.
Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot said the outcome represents accountability for Wittman's death while highlighting the devastating consequences of wrongful convictions.
"Today's outcome is an important step toward accountability for Damond Wittman's murder and for his family, who have waited decades for justice," Creuzot said.
"It is also a reminder of the profound consequences of a wrongful conviction. Martin Santillan lost more than 25 years of his life for a crime he did not commit. Our responsibility is to pursue the truth, correct past injustices and hold the person responsible accountable."
The Dallas County District Attorney's Office recognized trial attorneys Marissa Hatchett, Katherine Lessing and Lauren Livingston; investigators Anthony Winn and John Valdez; Conviction Integrity Unit Chief Cynthia Garza, Assistant District Attorney Holly Dozier and investigator Douglas Garrison; and victim advocate Mackenzie Kile for their work on the case.
