Kirk Bloodsworth is an American man known for being the first death row inmate in the United States to be exonerated through DNA evidence. In 1985, he was wrongfully convicted of the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Maryland. After spending nearly nine years in prison, DNA testing proved his innocence, leading to his release in 2004. Following his exoneration, Bloodsworth became an advocate for criminal justice reform and the use of DNA evidence in legal cases. He has worked with organizations like the Innocence Project to raise awareness about wrongful convictions and the importance of accurate forensic science in the justice system.