Cyntoia Brown Released after 15 Years in Prison
Cyntoia Brown, the woman who was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing a man that picked her up for sex at age 16, is finally free after spending 15 years in jail.
Now 31, Brown was released on parole from Tennessee Prison for Women early on Wednesday, August 7, CBS News reports.
Cyntoia Brown, championed by Kim Kardashian and Rihanna as a symbol of unfair sentencing, is released from prison. https://t.co/8OwSpYP5qC
— AP South U.S. Region (@APSouthRegion) August 7, 2019
THE CRIME
Brown’s face began to attract attention amid the rise of the #MeToo movement with her supporters insisting that the 2004 murder of 43-year-old real estate agent Johnny Allen was an act of self-defense.
Allen had picked Brown up for sex at a Drive-In in Nashville and, according to NPR, the teen told the police that she pulled a pistol out of her purse and fatally shot him because she thought he was reaching for a gun.
Brown fled the scene with Allen’s guns and money but was eventually captured and in 2006, was convicted of aggravated robbery and first-degree murder and handed a life-without-parole sentence.
Cyntoia Brown was released from a Tennessee prison Wednesday after serving 15 years of a life sentence for killing a man who hired her for sex when she was just 16 years old. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian & LeBron James have pushed for Brown's clemency. https://t.co/BM1upyjCfV pic.twitter.com/82lrDAoj4t
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) August 8, 2019
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that life-without-parole sentences for juveniles are not constitutional, state prosecutors argued successfully that Brown’s sentence was not in violation of federal law because she would only be eligible for parole after serving 51 years, in 2055.
According to court documents, Brown ran away from her adoptive family in Nashville in 2004 and found herself in an abusive relationship with a drug dealer -- known as “Cut Throat” -- who forced her to become a prostitute.
Cyntoia Brown was convicted of murder when she was 16. After spending more than half her life in prison, she’s being released in Tennessee today – thanks to some celebrities, including @KimKardashian, @rihanna and @Alyssa_Milano, who shined a light on her case. pic.twitter.com/MleMOL3PvG
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 7, 2019
SUPPORT FOR CYNTOIA BROWN
In their argument, Brown’s lawyers argued that not only was she a sex trafficking victim who feared for her life but that she also lacked the mental capacity to be culpable in the slaying because her mother's alcohol use impaired her while she was in the womb.
Brown’s case drew the attention of celebrities like LeBron James, Kim Kardashian West, and Rihanna, who lobbied for her release. Backed by the outcry from members of the public, their efforts resulted in then-governor of Tennessee Bill Haslam granting Brown clemency.
"In just seven months, I will walk out of prison and get a second chance at life" writes Cyntoia Brown, who was granted clemency on Jan. 7, in an op-ed for USA TODAY. https://t.co/elSSrtbmmQ
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) January 21, 2019
CYNTOIA BROWN SPEAKS
In a statement obtained by USA TODAY, Brown said upon her release:
“While first giving honor to God who made all of this possible, I would also like to thank my many supporters who have spoken on my behalf and prayed for me. I’m blessed to have a very supportive family and friends to support me in the days to come. I look forward to using my experiences to help other women and girls suffering abuse and exploitation."
CONDITIONS OF THE RELEASE
"I thank Governor and First Lady Haslam for their vote of confidence in me and with the Lord’s help I will make them as well as the rest of my supporters proud,” she added.
Haslam’s commutation reportedly demands that Brown remains on parole supervision for ten years after her release, on the condition that she keeps a job, participates in regular counseling sessions, and does not violate any state or federal laws.
Cyntoia Brown is free! After over 14 years of serving a life sentence, Cyntoia is finally home.
— ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) August 7, 2019
This victory belongs to Cyntoia, her community and to the thousands of people including local organizers and advocates who stepped in to demand justice. #CyntoiaBrown pic.twitter.com/jwaWG6qtuK
REACTIONS TO THE RELEASE
Individuals and groups have been celebrating Brown’s release on social media since the news broke. James tweeted: “Cyntoia Brown welcome home!!!” while U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren said:
“Cyntoia Brown is finally free—but we can’t forget that she was denied justice for over 14 years. The words above the Supreme Court say ‘Equal Justice Under Law.’ We need to start acting like it, and that means standing up for survivors of sexual violence.”
Cyntoia Brown was 16 when she was jailed for fatally shooting a man whom she said tried to rape her
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 7, 2019
Today, 15 years later, she has been released
[Tap to expand]https://t.co/EZtVprMj8T pic.twitter.com/81roXlao8v
Brown, who earned her GED and a bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University as an inmate, now plans to publish a memoir by October and will also be the focus of a documentary to be produced by a nonprofit group.