Elmer “Geronimo” Pratt, a former Black Panther Party leader who spent 27 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, died June 2, the Los Angeles Times reported. He was 63.
According to an Associated Press’ interview with Pratt’s lawyer, Stuart Hanlon, the activist died at his home in a small Tanzanian village where he’d lived for at least five years.
Pratt was falsely accused and convicted of murdering Caroline Olsen, a 27-year-old school teacher, in 1972 and ultimately spent eight of his 27 jailed years in solitary confinement. He was freed in 1997 when an Orange County Superior Court judge overturned his conviction.
Three years later, Pratt settled with the FBI and city of Los Angeles for $4.5 million in a false imprisonment and civil rights lawsuit.
Pratt was born in Morgan City, La., and was a Vietnam War veteran. He was also the godfather of late rap icon Tupac Shakur.