Man Wrongfully Imprisoned for 40 Years Faces Deportation After Murder Conviction Overturned

Subu Vedam, a State College resident, spent decades in prison before his murder conviction was vacated, but now faces an uncertain future as he fights deportation.

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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Subu Vedam, a 64-year-old State College man, spent over four decades in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murder in 1980. His conviction was recently overturned due to new evidence, but he now faces deportation to India, the country he left as an infant. Vedam's family and defense attorneys are fighting to keep him in the U.S. and reunite him with his loved ones in the community he grew up in.

Why it matters

Vedam's case highlights the long-lasting impact of wrongful convictions and the challenges individuals face even after their names are cleared. His story also raises questions about the treatment of immigrants, even those who have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives, when they encounter the criminal justice system.

The details

Vedam was serving a life sentence without parole for the 1980 murder of Thomas Kinser, a 19-year-old Boalsburg man. Prosecutors alleged Vedam used a .25-caliber handgun, but new ballistic evidence uncovered by Vedam's defense team undermined the state's case. The Centre County judge who vacated the conviction found the new evidence could have 'severed the link' between Vedam and the killing. With key witnesses deceased and some evidence no longer available, the district attorney ultimately dropped the murder charge.

  • Vedam was convicted of murder in 1980.
  • Vedam's murder conviction was vacated in 2024.
  • The murder charge against Vedam was dropped in 2025.
  • Vedam was moved from state prison to ICE custody in October 2025.
  • A status hearing in Vedam's deportation case is scheduled for Wednesday.

The players

Subu Vedam

A 64-year-old State College man who spent over four decades in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murder, and is now facing deportation to India.

Saraswathi Vedam

Subu Vedam's older sister, who has been advocating for his release and fighting his deportation.

Gopal Balachandran

Subu Vedam's lead defense attorney, who has been critical of the district attorney's handling of the case.

Bernie Cantorna

The Centre County District Attorney who ultimately dropped the murder charge against Subu Vedam.

William H. McDermott

The immigration judge who will hear the merits of Subu Vedam's claims against deportation.

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What they’re saying

“We've had many disappointments over many decades, and my brother is nothing if not resilient. But it's getting old for him. He's tired. Mostly he's tired because he's in a setting that's very different from those four decades.”

— Saraswathi Vedam, Subu Vedam's older sister (centredaily.com)

“While the Centre County District Attorney's office deserves credit for opening up their files and ultimately dismissing the case against Subu, they do not get a free pass. The strength of our Constitutional arguments was apparent back in January 2024. If they had agreed to relief, as they should have, instead of raising both costly and meritless defenses, Subu would already be with his family. That failure to do the right thing has cost Subu two years and counting on top of decades of wrongful incarceration.”

— Gopal Balachandran, Subu Vedam's lead defense attorney (centredaily.com)

“He will be free. We don't know when and we don't necessarily know where, but he will be free and that's not something that could have been said a year ago.”

— Gopal Balachandran, Subu Vedam's lead defense attorney (centredaily.com)

What’s next

An immigration judge will hold a status hearing on Wednesday to set a date to hear the merits of Subu Vedam's claims against deportation.

The takeaway

Subu Vedam's case highlights the lasting impact of wrongful convictions and the challenges immigrants face even after their names are cleared. His story underscores the need for greater accountability and transparency in the criminal justice system to prevent such injustices from occurring in the first place.