Myon Burrell was sentenced to life in prison at only 16 for a stray bullet killing. He was prosecuted with suspect “evidence,” and his co-defendant confessed! The initial conviction was tossed, but he was still locked up – when the details came up again in a big way.
A year-long AP investigation uncovered a LOT, including missing evidence, coached testimony, and bribes for information! A surveillance tape also went missing that Myon says would have cleared him.
Despite this, one person was proud to lock him up.
2020 presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar bragged about prosecuting the case to show she was “tough on crime.” Later, she claimed ignorance about it during the election!
It’s known his rights were violated by police – he begged for his mother, who later died traveling from visiting him in prison. But now things have changed.
The Minnesota Board of Pardons commuted his life sentence, and he’s now been freed. Klobuchar said that releasing the man she helped jail for 18 years was a “just decision.”
His fellow inmates celebrated as he left, and cheering supporters chanted “Myon's free!"
Myon has a job lined up, a marriage, and family to support him. He has mentioned looking for closure around his mother’s tragic death, but in the meantime, he’s working to be an example for others, and his story has already inspired so many.