not commit. tonight the innocence project which has helped exonerate more than 200 wrongfully convicted people through dna testing says they have compelling new evidence that casts down on reed's conviction. and they're battling it out in the courts while rodney reed's family fights to keep him alive. >> i believe we have a very good chance of getting justice not just for rodney but for stacey stites as well. because i know she is not resting well in the grave knowing that an innocent man is going to be charged and murdered for a crime he didn't commit. >> reporter: when rodney reed was convicted 21 years ago of the rape and murder of stacey stites, the prosecution's entire case rested on two main pillars. first a time line provided by her fiance, jimmy finnell. second the traces of rodry reed's semen found in her body.