New suspect charged in 2010 stabbing death outside Montrose bar

Lydell Grant, center, his mother Donna Poe, left, and brother Alonzo Poe celebrate Grant's release on bond on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019, in Houston. Earlier in the day, a judge ordered Grant’s release after prosecutors and defense attorneys with the Innocence Project of Texas agreed that Grant should be freed while the case is investigated further in light of new DNA evidence. Grant was convicted of murder in the 2010 stabbing death of Aaron Scheerhoorn outside of a Montrose bar, and he had spent seven years behind bars. less Lydell Grant, center, his mother Donna Poe, left, and brother Alonzo Poe celebrate Grant's release on bond on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019, in Houston. Earlier in the day, a judge ordered Grant’s release after ... more Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close New suspect charged in 2010 stabbing death outside Montrose bar 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A new suspect has been charged in the 2010 murder of a 28-year-old man outside a bar in Montrose — after another suspect spent seven years in prison for the murder.

Jermarico Carter is currently in custody in Georgia following an extensive re-investigation of the stabbing death of Aaron Scheerhoorn, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

This should lead to an exoneration of 42-year-old Lydell Grant, who was in late November released from prison on bond, while authorities re-investigate the case, authorities said. Grant was convicted in 2012 after six eyewitnesses testified they saw him stab Scheerhoorn outside Blur Bar on Dec. 10, 2010.

Lawyers with the Innocence Project of Texas fought for Grant’s release, as a recent DNA analysis ruled Grant out as a potential suspect and matched with a profile already in the system, for a man with a violent criminal history who lived in Houston at the time of the murder.

“The highest responsibility of a prosecutor is to see that justice is done and insuring that we have the correct individual charged is a baseline responsibility,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a prepared statement. “To accomplish that in this case, the Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office worked together diligently to identify, track down, arrest and obtain a statement from Carter, who finally admitted to killing Aaron Scheerhoorn. We look forward to presenting this new evidence in court and obtaining justice for Scheerhoorn’s family. We will begin the exoneration process for Lydell Grant immediately.”

Mike Ware, executive director of the Innocence Project of Texas and lead counsel for Lydell Grant said they look forward to Grant’s exoneration.

“We are relieved that Lydell’s wrongful conviction has had this important breakthrough,” he said.

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