Stories of Freedom: A Community Archive of Freed and Exonerated Voices
In partnership with StoryCorps Studios, the Innocence Project has recorded more than 30 intimate conversations about wrongful conviction. These powerful stories reflect the grace, humor, warmth, and resilience of those who have been wrongfully convicted and the people who stood by them. The collection will be publicly accessible and preserved in perpetuity in the Library of Congress.
This project was made possible by generous grants from the Mellon Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Mary Mack & Leonard Mack
Leonard Mack and his wife Mary Jane Mack reflect on their pasts and how their previous experiences have been an important factor in their marriage. Leonard also reflects on how his wrongful conviction inspires him to help others.
Leonard Mack and his wife Mary Jane Mack reflect on their pasts and how their previous experiences have been an important factor in their marriage. Leonard also reflects on how his wrongful conviction inspires him to help others.
Videos
Carlos Sanchez & Angelica Apolinaris
Carlos Sanchez and his niece Angelica Apolinaris talk about Carlos’s wrongful conviction and eventual release as well as their relationship that has both given them strength throughout the years.
Christopher Ochoa & Mercedes García
Christopher Ochoa* and his wife, Mercedes Garcia, talk about Christopher’s wrongful conviction and his exoneration. Participants also talk about their Mexican pride, Chris’ legal career and their wishes for the future. *Represented by the Innocence Project and Wisconsin Innocence Project
Paul Hildwin & Stephanie Spurgeon
Paul Hildwin and his friend Stephanie Spurgeon* reflect on forming a friendship as they fought for their freedom. Both were freed around the same time and talk about how they each find beauty and struggle in their new lives post-prison. *Represented by the Innocence Project of Florida
Rosa Jimenez & Mary Flores
Wives Rosa Jimenez and Mary Flores talk about love, trust, and what real freedom looks like. Rosa reflects on being wrongfully convicted of murder and imprisoned for more than a decade.
John Nolley & Tavan Seaton-Nolley
John Nolley and his son Tavan Seaton-Nolley have a conversation about John’s wrongful conviction, experiences in prison, and exoneration. They also reflect on how they maintained their relationship while separated.
Termaine Hicks & Karen Thompson
Termaine Hicks and his friend and former attorney Karen Thompson reflect on Termaine’s wrongful conviction and exoneration. Termaine also discusses organizing and writing plays for the prison community while he was incarcerated and his educational work post exoneration.
Huwe Burton & Brian Carenard
Friends Huwe Burton and Brian “Saigon” Carenard remember starting their hip hop careers as teenagers behind prison bars.
Patrick Waller & Mike Ware
Innocence Project of Texas client Patrick Waller discusses his wrongful conviction experience with friend and attorney Mike Ware.
Elizabeth Ramirez & Evangelina Angel Ramirez
In a deeply emotional interview conducted by her then wife Evangelina Angel Ramirez, Elizabeth Ramirez* recounts her wrongful incarceration for a rape she did not commit in Texas. Represented by the Innocence Project of Texas.
Cory Session & Bob Roy Sanders
Speaking to friend and former reporter Bob Ray Sanders, Cory Session details his family’s effort with the Innocence Project of Texas to exonerate his brother Timothy Cole, who sadly died in prison in 1999 while serving a 25-year sentence for a rape he didn’t commit.
Jimmy Bromgard & Linda Glantz
Innocence Project and Montana Innocence Project client Jimmy Ray Bromgard and survivor Linda Glantz talk about how Mr. Bromgard’s 1987 wrongful conviction of a rape he did not commit has impacted them. Mr. Bromgard served 15 years in prison before he was exonerated by post-conviction DNA testing in 2002.
Dennis Allen & Edward Robinson
Childhood friends Dennis Lee Allen* and Edward Robinson look back at the 15 years Mr. Allen wrongly spent in prison for a murder he did not commit in Texas. *Represented by the Innocence Project of Texas.
The recordings shared on this site feature the stories of wrongfully convicted people, their friends and families told in their own words, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Innocence Project. We celebrate their courage and candor in sharing their truth.
Audio Recordings
Rinaldo Moss & Renay Lynch
Renay Lynch and her son Rinaldo Ray Moss discuss Renay’s wrongful conviction and rebuilding their lives after her release. They also talk about the complexity of family and their hopes for improvements with the justice system.
Alexus Lee, Vanessa Potkin & Jabar Walker
Jabar Walker and his daughter Alexus Lee talk with Jabar’s lawyer Vanessa Potkin about his wrongful conviction and eventual exoneration.
Marvin Grimm, Sharon Crosby & Lisa Grimm
Marvin Grimm talks with his sisters, Sharon Crosby and Lisa Grimm, about his wrongful conviction, life in prison as an innocent person, and being exonerated. They also discuss how his wrongful conviction affected Sharon and Lisa.
Jia Rizvi & Jeffrey Deskovic
Attorney and exoneree Jeffrey Deskovic talks with his colleague, filmmaker and advocate Jia Rizvi, about the factors that led to his wrongful conviction and its impact on his life. They discuss Jeffrey’s legal work to help others who have been wrongfully incarcerated and ways he is working toward change in the legal system.
Herman Atkins & Imari Atkins
Herman Atkins, Sr. talks with his son Imari Atkins about Herman’s wrongful conviction and life’s challenges after exoneration. They discuss the changes they want to see in the justice system and Herman’s hopes for Imari.
Cornelius Dupree and Steven Dupree
Cornelius Dupree and his brother Steven Wayne Dupree talk about Cornelius’s wrongful conviction and eventual exoneration. They also talk about shared childhood memories and their hopes for each other’s futures.
Clemente Aguirre and Alicia Maule
Clemente Aguirre speaks to friend Alicia Cepeda Maule about being wrongfully convicted of a double homicide and life after exoneration. Clemente discusses living on death row and the strength he draws from God, his Mayan heritage, and the kindness of others. He compares his dream of freedom to its reality and explains how he makes sense of all he has been through.
Karen Thompson and Termaine Hicks
Termaine Hicks and his friend and former attorney Karen Thompson reflect on Termaine’s wrongful conviction and exoneration. Termaine also discusses organizing and writing plays for the prison community while he was incarcerated and his educational work post exoneration.
Marvin Anderson and Heidi Goodwin
Innocence Project Board member, Marvin Anderson* and his friend and mentee Heidi Goodwin** talk about their experiences with the criminal justice system as freed people and exonerees. They also talk about how they became close, how they process their trauma and what their hopes are for the future of the freed community. *Represented by the Innocence Project and Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project **Represented by the Washington Innocence Project
Gerard Richardson and Rodney Roberts
Gerard Richardson and his “brother from another mother” Rodney Roberts have a conversation about their wrongful convictions, time spent in prison, and the roles their mothers have played throughout their lives.
