The Spring 2023 cohort (at Princeton University and Georgetown University) focused on eight potential exonerees who have been incarcerated for a total of 199 years (and counting).
Ha’Ason Cleveland
Why has Ha’son Cleveland been in prison for over 15 years for a murder that two other women have confessed to? This documentary tells the story of how Ha’son was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life without parole for the murder of his girlfriend.
This film was created by Jasmine Donohue-Ozyar, Daria Farman-Farmaian, and Alysha Orbach from Georgetown University and Andreu Ariciaga, Andrea Pastor, and Raven Pavao from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with support from Kyla Osburn from Georgetown Law.
To learn more about Ha’Ason and his case, visit bringhasonhome.org and follow @bringhasonhome on Instagram.
John Kinsel
Who, more than any other, is fighting to get John Kinsel out of prison? The woman who put him there.
This film was created by Justin Cassera, Jack Healy, and Yu Jin “Claire” Kim from Georgetown University and Jay Oliveros, Cole Pena, and Jackson Whitney from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with support from Max Demers from Georgetown Law.
To learn more about John and his case, visit https://freejohnkinsel.com/ and follow @freejohnkinsel on Instagram.
Sarah Pender
Sarah Pender’s case was reinvestigated by Georgetown University undergrads Annie Kane, Jacob Livesay, and Isabella Todaro, with support from Keith Gelderloos, Cindy Islas Ortiz, and Bonnie Yam from the University of California, Santa Cruz and Jessica Wang from Georgetown Law.
Billy Pennington
At 18, Billy Pennington pleaded guilty to a murder he did not commit. This film unravels the faulty evidence, lies of the key witness, and the pressure Billy and his family were under to make a deal with his life.
This film was created by Alexandra Baird, Maeve Foley, and Jordynn Jenkins from Georgetown University and Marcel Bell, Kahena Wilhite, and Jordan Wilson from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with support from Mark Tucker from Georgetown Law.
To learn more about Billy and his case, visit bringbillyhome.com and follow @bringbillyhome on Instagram.
Jamie Snow
Can you remember a stranger’s eyes after seeing them briefly from 200 feet away in the dark? What about eight years later? One witness claimed he could do just that, and Jamie Snow has been incarcerated for over 23 years for a crime he didn’t commit.
This film was created by Isabella Chiu, Jackson Edwards, and Maddy Langan from Georgetown University and Madeline Finkel, Kata Garcia De La Rosa, and Danny Moshayedi from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with support from Vanessa Torres from Georgetown Law.
To learn more about Jamie and his case, visit https://www.freejamiesnow.com/ and follow @freejamiesnow on Twitter/X.
Patricia Rorrer
In 1994, Patricia Rorrer was wrongfully convicted for the murder of her ex-boyfriend's wife and her 3-month-old son. Targeted by detectives in a case rampant with sexism, Rorrer was convicted on the basis of faulty forensics and flawed testimony. Decades later, she is still fighting to prove her innocence despite DNA tests that excluded her.
Sara Schiff, Kate Van Dusen and Ben Liccardi from Princeton University, along with Evan Molineux from Georgetown Law, reinvestigated her case through the Making An Exoneree program and are working to advocate for her freedom.
Ivery Dorsey
Ivery Dorsey was wrongfully convicted because of one eyewitness misidentification given 12 years after the original crime. Since Ivery's conviction, another man came forward and confessed, describing the specific details of the crime scene. Ivery has been incarcerated 17 years for a crime he didn't commit.
Ben Bograd, Kerrie Liang, and Kennedy Mattes from Princeton University, along with Kayla Ahmed from Georgetown Law, reinvestigated his case and secured him high profile legal representation. Watch their Making An Exoneree documentary to hear his story.
Muti Ajamu-Osagboro
Muti Ajamu-Osagboro has spent the past 42 years in prison despite two of his co-defendants recanting their testimony in 2003. These men claim that the Philadelphia Homicide Unit threatened and coerced them into lying to convict Muti while they were juveniles.
Anna Salvatore, Mikayla Merin, and Clara McWeeney from Princeton University, along with Tashay Campbell from Georgetown Law, reinvestigated the case through the Making An Exoneree program and helped Muti build a parole application, which was ultimately granted. Learn more about his case ahead of Muti's pending release.
Update: Muti was released in July 2023.