The Spring 2025 class (at Georgetown University, Princeton University, New York University, and University of California - Santa Cruz) focused on 16 potential exonerees who have been incarcerated for a total of 424 years (and counting).
Lance Alford
Lance Alford was wrongfully convicted in 2007 for a murder based on the coerced testimony of three unreliable witnesses. These witnesses were manipulated by the infamously corrupt Camden Police Department to implicate Lance in a crime that there is no feasible way he could have committed. Serving an undeserving charge of life plus ten years, Lance has been patiently fighting for his freedom.
This documentary by Alford’s Princeton University Making an Exoneree Team (Julia Kingston ‘25, Nelson Rogers ‘25, Madalyn Mejia ‘26, Adrianna Awald ‘26, and Catherine Cunningham ‘26 of Georgetown Law), exposes the miscarriages of justice and justifications for case reinvestigation.
Follow along as Alford’s team continues to advocate for his freedom.
Jason Chan
Jason Chan was sentenced to life without parole based on no physical evidence and inconsistent witness statements obtained through problematic police tactics for the murder of Dr. Haing Ngor. Despite the lack of evidence, Jason, along with two other former gang members, was pinned for the crime due to pressure put on the LAPD to solve the high-profile crime. Since 1996, the two others have been released on parole for their false convictions while Jason remains incarcerated. His loved ones continue to advocate for his innocence and vie for his exoneration.
Learn more about Jason’s case at https://theinnocencecenter.org/case/j....
This film was created by Aria Thielen, Dave Ordonez, and Sterling Lazarus from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with support from Isabela Gibson from Georgetown Law.
Demonta Chappell
In 2013, Demonta Chappell was arrested for first-degree murder. His charge rests on the sole testimony of four incentivized witnesses: The first admitted to lying. The second didn’t see the crime. The third has already been impeached. And the fourth has lied in other cases. There is no DNA or gun that links Demonta to the crime, who was at his aunt’s halloween party when the shooting occurred.
This film was created by Emma Pilkington, Luca Orlando, and Rams-Lyne Thomas from Georgetown University with support from Tiannah Adams from Georgetown Law.
To learn more about Demonta and his case, follow @freedemontachappell on Instagram.
Damon Cobb
For the past 33 years, Damon Cobb has been wrongfully incarcerated for a homicide he did not commit. During his trial, the prosecution introduced no physical evidence of Damon’s participation in the crime. Instead, his conviction depended on the dishonest testimony of one woman: his ex-girlfriend seeking revenge after a tumultuous relationship. Damon and his family continue to fight to overturn his conviction and look forward to the day where he walks as a rightfully free man.
This film was created by McKenna Lipkin, Dania Castillo-Mayoral, Lilian Yuan, and Max Gilligan from NYU with support from Sonja Breda from Georgetown Law School.
Stephen Downer
For 23 years, Stephon Downer has been imprisoned for something he did not do. A crime he wasn’t even there for. Using outdated composite sketches, an unreliable eyewitness who changed his description, jailhouse informants with nothing to lose, and a detective on trial for perjury, the Camden County Prosecutors Office pinned a murder on Stephon. The police shut down dissenting eyewitnesses because Stephon’s innocence didn’t “fit their puzzle.” But Stephon is more than a puzzle piece. He is a father, a brother, a son, an author, a philosopher. But more than anything, he’s innocent. #standwithstephon
This film was created by Daisha Sadiq, Georgia Doyle, and Naisha Roy from NYU with support from Ella Worth from Georgetown Law School.
Lucy Duncan
Lucy Faith Duncan is serving life without parole for a murder she didn’t commit. In 2004, Lucy's brother, Gerald Alan Duncan, shot and killed her abuser, but prosecutors pinned it on her, alleging premeditation and coercing her vulnerable 13-year-old son into testifying. Lucy never pulled the trigger and never saw it coming, yet she's the one behind bars for life.
This film was created by Simone Arrington, Emilia Cipriano, and Walker McCarthy from Georgetown University, with support from Taylor Torres from Georgetown Law.
To learn more about Lucy and her case, follow @freelucyduncan on Instagram.
Pablo Garcia
Pablo Garcia was sentenced to 25 years to life for a crime he did not commit - 16 years ago. In the process, he missed out on the lives of his family and friends. Our justice system’s reliance on outdated DNA testing and unreliable informant testimony put an innocent man behind bars, turning a hopeful teenager into just another statistic. Pablo dreamed of leaving the Bronx and pursuing a career in fashion. Nevertheless, Pablo has maintained his innocence as he continues to fight for the justice he deserves. Today, we rewind the clock, retelling the story of his wrongful conviction alongside the voice of his stepfather, Jesus Soto, who never stopped believing in his innocence and fighting for his release.
This film was created by Taylor Campbell, Emily De Leon Escobar, Stella Zhong, and Samantha Eill from NYU with support from Ian Elliot from Georgetown Law School.
Doug Gilding
Doug Gilding was asleep in another county when a robbery turned deadly — yet he’s serving life without parole under Florida’s felony murder rule. This documentary unravels how a ten-minute conversation and false testimony led to the conviction of a man who never touched a weapon or even entered the scene. It’s a story of injustice and the urgent need for reform.
This film was created by Julia Butler, Hannah Mikhail, and Noa Offman from Georgetown University, with support from Allie Kotter from Georgetown Law.
To learn more about Doug and his case, follow @freedouggilding on Instagram.
Kendric “Ken” Gillum
This documentary dives into the story of an innocent man sentenced to life in West Memphis, Arkansas—a town infamous for locking up the innocent, like the West Memphis Three. With no physical evidence, a key witness who recanted, and an alibi witness silenced before ever taking the stand, Kendrick Gillum never stood a chance. This documentary unearths the devastating cost of a justice system more obsessed with convictions than the truth.
Claudia Amendoeira, Tamya Hayes, and Brendan Teehan from Georgetown University, along with Max Lang from Georgetown Law, reinvestigated his case through the Making An Exoneree program and are working to advocate for his freedom.
To learn more about Ken and his case, follow @freekendricgillum on Instagram.
Kevin Herrick
Kevin Herrick has been wrongfully incarcerated since 1989, passed around by the Florida Department of Corrections for a crime he did not commit. Despite the horrors and injustice he’s faced, Kevin remains faithful, positive, and a light to those around him. Join us as we advocate for Kevin’s long-awaited release.
Naina Bhamidipati, Ava Kawamura, and Brett Rauch from Georgetown University, along with Nick White from Georgetown Law, reinvestigated his case through the Making An Exoneree program and are working to advocate for his freedom.
To learn more about Kevin and his case, visit kevinisnext.com and follow @freekevinherrick on Instagram.
Bobby Janoe
On December 29, 1991, Joy Janoe left her house after an argument with her husband Bobby Janoe. Her body was discovered the next morning in an alley in Westminster, California. Despite an initial search of their home turning up nothing, police soon shifted focus to Bobby, eventually arresting him based on minor blood stains and circumstantial evidence. In an era of limited DNA technology, Bobby was convicted after a second trial that included questionable testimony from an ex-wife and crucially, medical records contradicting her claims were withheld by the prosecution. With possible Brady violations, ineffective counsel, and two overlooked alternative suspects, Bobby’s story raises disturbing questions about police bias, prosecutorial misconduct, and wrongful conviction.
This film was created by Faith Fletcher, Sean Spiller, and Alexia Tentman from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with support from Kendra Sharrard from Georgetown Law.
Quntos Kunquest & Layla Roberts
In a robbery where no one was physically harmed, the victim and the vehicle were returned safely, and a total of $301 was stolen, do the perpetrators deserve life in prison without parole? Well, that’s the sentence Layla Roberts and Quntos Wilson received in 1995 at the ages of 18 and 19…
This film was created by Natalie Decena, Sarina Bozorgnia, Veler Brown, and Aiden Olivier from UC Santa Cruz with support from Michael Ademaro from Georgetown Law School.
Kenny Portee
In 2006, Kenny Portee was sentenced to 50 years to life for a murder he has always said he didn’t commit. No DNA evidence. No murder weapon. Just jailhouse informants, unreliable witnesses, and a trial plagued by bias and misconduct.
"Through Making an Exoneree, we re-investigated Kenny’s case - interviewing witnesses, uncovering new leads, and traveling across New York to do the work that was never done. What we found raises serious doubts about the integrity of his conviction and demands a second look. Told through Kenny’s words and our investigation, this documentary sheds light on a broken system...and the man still fighting for justice inside it."
This film was created by Sarah Ruth Brock, Emilia Lam, Audrey Abrahams, and Anabella Ginebra from NYU with support from Tess Ostroff and Kate Medwar-Vanderlinden from Georgetown Law School.
Maradona Smith
Maradona Smith was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit. His freedom was taken by the state after police extracted a false confession, and a vulnerable young girl was coerced into giving untrue testimony. Maradona’s story is uniquely heartbreaking, and exemplifies broader issues of police misconduct and racial inequality in the carceral system.
This film was created by Dani Cohen, Arrey Enow, Hajra Hamid, and Thomas Earl from Princeton University, with support from Virginia Polik from Georgetown Law School.
Rudy Thomas
On Jan 17, 2007, Deon Griffin, a known drug dealer and FBI informant, was shot dead in Detroit. Rudy Thomas, who was celebrating his daughter’s birthday miles away, would later be convicted for the crime, based solely on the testimony of a single pressured witness. No physical evidence. No motive. Just a suspicious ID made after months of harassment, in a city notorious for a corrupt justice system. The prosecutor had a history of wrongful convictions. The defense attorney was later disbarred. Key evidence, such as the victim’s role as a federal informant and an alternate suspect named in FBI files, was withheld. 15 years later, the witness recanted. Rudy is still fighting for justice.
This film was created by Gabby Goss, Isla Patrick, and Matt Irwin from UC Santa Cruz with support from Olivia Murphy from Georgetown Law School.
Carmen Woods
At the tender age of 19, Carmen Woods was convicted of a murder he did not commit based on the testimony of a single witness who was coerced into testifying by the victim’s father. That witness has since admitted that his testimony was fabricated three different times. Despite the lack of evidence implicating Carmen in the crime, he remains in prison, where he has spent over 40 years of his adult life. Carmen and his family continue to advocate for his innocence and remain hopeful that someday justice will be served.
Learn more at: www.justiceforcarmen.com.
This film was created by Wilson Conn, Quin Freeny, and Kendrah Su from Princeton University, with support from Stef Pousoulides at Georgetown Law School.