Buffalo, NY – More than four decades after their convictions for the 1976 murder of William Crawford, questions surrounding the testimony that sent four men to prison are resurfacing, fueled by the recollections of Tyrone Woodruff, the key witness whose statements underpinned the case. Woodruff, now 67, has long carried the weight of his role in the convictions of Darryl Boyd, Floyd Martin, John Walker Jr., and Darryn Gibson, all of whom maintained their innocence.
The case centers around the death of Crawford, 62, found dead near his home on Fillmore Avenue, across the street from the Golden Nugget bar, on January 2, 1976 . Woodruff, then 17, was among a group of five teenagers who had spent time with Crawford at the bar the night of the murder . Following intense questioning by Buffalo Police, Woodruff began to provide details that implicated his friends.
According to Woodruff, detectives shaped his account before he testified before a grand jury. He described a scenario where, prompted by the lead prosecutor Timothy J. Drury, he filled in gaps in his memory, guided by suggestions about how events “could have” or “maybe” unfolded. Woodruff recalled feeling trapped, stating, “I should’ve just said, ‘You know what? I ain’t doing nothing. Y’all do what y’all got to do.’”
Woodruff’s testimony alleged that his friends had targeted Crawford after learning he might have cashed a check at a local bar. He claimed they waited for Crawford to cross Fillmore Avenue before Gibson struck him with a pipe concealed in his sleeve. However, defense attorneys at the time challenged the consistency of Woodruff’s statements, pointing out inaccuracies regarding the time, date, and location of the crime, as well as his inability to positively identify the victim or the scene . Drury, although acknowledging Woodruff’s limited intellect, urged the jury to believe his account, dismissing concerns about its reliability.
Boyd, Gibson, and Walker were convicted of second-degree murder and served decades in prison before being released on parole. Martin was acquitted, with his attorney attributing the outcome to a crime-scene photograph showing only one set of footprints in the snow, suggesting a single assailant . The photograph’s availability to other defense teams remains unclear.
The emotional toll on Woodruff has been profound. He described a life haunted by guilt and fear, marked by periods of isolation and a struggle to reconcile his actions with his conscience. After a brief stint in the Army, where he attributed his inability to focus to the weight of his past, he returned to Buffalo, living in a state of constant anxiety.
In recent years, the cases of the “Buffalo Five” – as the group became known – have drawn renewed scrutiny. In December 2020, Boyd and Walker returned to court to challenge their convictions, seeking access to original crime-scene photographs . The Erie County District Attorney’s office maintained that there was no evidence of withheld information that could exonerate the men. The legal battle continues, leaving the fate of the convictions, and the search for closure for all involved, unresolved.
Woodruff, who has repeatedly recounted his story in recent court appearances , continues to grapple with the consequences of his testimony, stating he will “never forget” or “experience better about what I’ve done.”