Conviction Review Unit Finds No Basis to Overturn 2004 Dakota County Murder Conviction of Philip Vance
Published: March 26, 2026
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA - A four-year independent review into the 2004 murder conviction of Philip Randall Vance has concluded with no recommendation to overturn the verdict, according to a newly released report from the Minnesota Attorney General’s Conviction Review Unit (CRU).
The findings, announced alongside a statement from Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena, mark the latest chapter in a case that has undergone years of appeals, postconviction petitions, and renewed scrutiny.
Extensive Review Finds No Evidence of Wrongful Conviction
The CRU, a specialized unit within the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office tasked with reviewing claims of wrongful conviction, launched its investigation in July 2021 at the request of Vance. Over nearly four years, investigators reviewed thousands of pages of case materials, analyzed hundreds of hours of recordings, and conducted multiple witness interviews.
Despite the breadth of the review, the CRU ultimately determined there was no reliable evidence to support claims that Vance was wrongfully convicted.
“At the end of its investigation, the CRU did not find reliable support for Philip Vance’s claims and cannot recommend vacation of his conviction,” the report states.
Case Background: 2002 Killing at South St. Paul Convenience Store
Vance was convicted in October 2004 by a Dakota County jury of two counts of first-degree premeditated murder and one count of second-degree intentional murder in the shooting death of 25-year-old Khaled Majed Al-Bakri. Al-Bakri, a clerk at Sabreen’s Supermarket in South St. Paul, was shot during a robbery on December 22, 2002.
Vance was sentenced to life in prison, a mandatory penalty for first-degree premeditated murder convictions in Minnesota. Since that time, his conviction has been repeatedly upheld, including in unanimous rulings by the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2006 and 2008.
Key Findings From the CRU Investigation
No Physical Evidence — But Strong Circumstantial Case
The CRU confirmed that no DNA, fingerprints, or direct forensic evidence linked Vance to the crime scene. However, investigators emphasized that this fact was already known at trial and did not invalidate the conviction. Instead, the case was built on circumstantial evidence and witness testimony.
One of the most significant findings reaffirmed by the CRU was the role of Vance’s own alleged admissions.
According to the report, shortly after the murder, Vance told a bartender he had shot someone and intended to leave town. Investigators found no evidence to refute that statement. The report also notes additional incriminating statements made to witnesses and informants, as well as inconsistencies in Vance’s accounts to law enforcement.
The CRU found that Vance’s phone records aligned with the prosecution’s timeline and contradicted later claims about his whereabouts. Investigators determined there was no new evidence undermining those connections.
Alibi Claims Deemed Unreliable
While Vance did not present an alibi at trial, his legal team later introduced one during the CRU review. However, investigators found those accounts to be inconsistent and lacking independent corroboration.
“The CRU did not find reliable evidence to support Vance’s alibi,” the report concluded.
The CRU also examined claims that key witnesses had recanted their testimony. Investigators determined those recantations were unreliable and unsupported by independent evidence, noting that jurors at trial were already aware that some witnesses received incentives in exchange for testimony.
Although some officers involved in the original investigation were later disciplined in unrelated cases tied to the now-disbanded Minnesota Gang Strike Force, the CRU found no evidence of misconduct in Vance’s case specifically.
Alternative Suspect Theory Not Substantiated
A late-emerging claim pointing to an alternative suspect was also investigated.
The CRU found the claim could not be corroborated and determined that information about the alleged alternative suspect may have originated from individuals connected to Vance’s own advocacy efforts.
The CRU’s findings come as the Dakota County District Court also denied Vance’s most recent petition for postconviction relief on March 25, 2026. That petition had been on hold pending the outcome of the CRU investigation.
County Attorney Responds
Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena acknowledged both the court’s decision and the CRU’s review in a statement following the report’s release.
“I respect the court’s decision and I appreciate the CRU for the thorough evaluation of this matter,” Keena said. “Our office remains committed to transparency and to upholding the integrity of the justice system.”
A Case Reaffirmed
Ultimately, the CRU concluded that the conviction remains supported by the available evidence and that claims of innocence were not substantiated by reliable, independent findings.
The report states that no “manifest injustice” was identified. The standard required to overturn a conviction through the unit’s review process.
For now, Vance’s conviction and life sentence remain in place, closing the latest review of a case that has been challenged for more than two decades.
Written by: Will Wight
Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash
