Ronnie Bullock was convicted in Cook County, Illinois, in May 1984, of the rape of a nine year old girl. Bullock was suspected in two similar incidents in the area, the second involving a twelve year old girl. In both cases, the perpetrator claimed to be a police officer, chased the victim into a car, drove into an alley, and raped her. Bullock was charged with both crimes, but the second case was dropped.

Bullock, who lived in the area, was originally identified by a police officer based on a composite sketch. Both victims subsequently identified Bullock in a lineup.

Bullock insisted that the evidence from the case be preserved. After his appeals were denied, Bullock filed, in 1993, for postconviction DNA testing. The evidence had been lost but was located and sent to Cellmark Diagnostics in Maryland. PCR based DNA testing was performed and, while the rectal swabs were inconclusive, Bullock was excluded as the donor of the spermatozoa on the victim's underwear. Bullock was released but monitored until the prosecution could perform replicate testing, which was performed by the Cook County laboratory. The exculpatory results were verified and, after over ten years, Ronnie Bullock was officially a free and innocent man.