Boston Settles for $150,000 with Wrongly Accused Men

Boston, September 24, 2025

News Summary

Boston has reached a $150,000 settlement with Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett, two Black men wrongfully accused in a high-profile 1989 murder case involving pregnant Carol Stuart. The settlement, which includes a formal apology from Mayor Michelle Wu, acknowledges the injustices faced by the men and the harm caused to Boston’s Black community. The case highlights ongoing issues of racial bias in law enforcement and the impact on affected individuals and neighborhoods.

Boston — Two Black men, Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett, have received a $150,000 settlement from the city of Boston after being wrongly accused of killing pregnant Carol Stuart in a high-profile case from 1989.

Key facts and settlement details

The settlement distribution includes $100,000 for Willie Bennett and $50,000 for Alan Swanson. This settlement follows a formal apology from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued in December 2023, acknowledging the injustices faced by both men and the harm caused to the Black community. The city has not provided further details regarding the terms of the settlement.

What led to the accusations

Carol Stuart was killed during an incident reportedly orchestrated by her husband, Charles Stuart, after they left a birthing class at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Charles Stuart claimed they were attacked during a carjacking by a Black gunman, leading to a manhunt that wrongfully implicated Swanson and Bennett. Carol Stuart was shot in the head and died the following day; her unborn child was delivered via cesarean section 17 days later.

Law enforcement actions and community impact

As a direct result of the accusations, there was an increase in police presence and heightened racial tensions in Boston’s predominantly Black neighborhoods. Swanson was initially arrested and jailed for three weeks before being ruled out as a suspect; Bennett was taken into custody afterward. Despite later statements from a witness affirming that Charles Stuart was the perpetrator, neither Swanson nor Bennett was ever formally charged.

Aftermath and related developments

Charles Stuart survived a gunshot wound but later died by jumping off a bridge a few months after the incident as the narrative fell apart. Mayor Wu described the treatment of Swanson and Bennett as unjust, unfair, racist and wrong, emphasizing the lack of evidence against them. Bennett expressed his ongoing resentment over the ordeal, indicating it altered his life forever. Swanson revealed that his wrongful connection to the crime left him homeless, impacting him significantly.

Why this settlement matters

The settlement and the mayoral apology are official acknowledgments of harm done to two men and to the broader Black community in Boston. The case has long been cited as an example of how rapid public accusation and police action can affect individuals and neighborhoods, including prolonged personal consequences such as incarceration, loss of housing and community trust.

What the city has said and not said

The city has not provided further details regarding the terms of the settlement. The formal apology from Mayor Michelle Wu was issued in December 2023 and cited as context for the settlement decision.

Timeline (selected points)

• 1989: Incident in which Carol Stuart was killed and her unborn child later delivered via cesarean section 17 days later.
• Shortly after the incident: Swanson arrested and jailed for three weeks before being ruled out as a suspect; Bennett taken into custody afterward.
• A few months after the incident: Charles Stuart died by jumping off a bridge as the narrative fell apart.
• December 2023: Formal apology issued by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
• 2024-2025: City of Boston reaches $150,000 settlement with Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett.

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Additional Resources

• Reuters
• ABC News
• CBS News
• The New York Times
• Wikipedia: Carol Stuart case
• Red Lake Nation News
• MassLive
• NBC Boston
• Boston Herald
• Google Search: Carol Stuart murder case

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