Looking out my cell window, I can see trees. Not just to tops of trees, but the whole tree–all the way to the bottom where it is strongly rooted to the ground. Although I am looking through rows of chain-linked fence and razor wire, I can still see the whole tree. For over thirty years while I fought to prove my innocence, I was held at state prisons that were surrounded with ominous walls that everyday reminded me of my wrongful conviction. I often looked over the top of those walls and could see the tops of the trees. Green and full of life in the summer, bare and dormant sometimes dusted with snow in the winter. Faced with that looming wall that separated me from my family and freedom, I remember finding a little comfort when thinking to myself, “at least I can still see the tops of the trees.”
This past May, after so many seasons, so many years, so many losses, and so many disappointments, my conviction was overturned. We overcame the most difficult hurdle in our struggle to prove my innocence. A judge agreed with us that my trial was not fair that witnesses lied and that new science cast serious doubt about my guilt. We won! Without celebration or joyful goodbyes, I was abruptly taken from one prison and brought to another. I was not reunited with my family. There were no joyful celebrations or loving embraces with family and loved ones. Only more chains. More barbed wire. Another prison cell. More sadness and pain. Why doesn’t it feel like my conviction was overturned?
Why doesn’t it feel like I finally proved my innocence? Why am I still caged and kept from my family? Why are my family still forced to suffer? I don’t understand.
But at least I can see the trees. ODC?
Stay STRONG xo Good things are finally happening! Just isn’t as quick as it should be..with love 💜🙏💯🤟
🩵
Dad,
It is incredible to me the strength you’ve carried through every season. Even after everything, you still choose to find hope, and that inspires me every single day.
The walls may still be there today, but they won’t be there forever. We’re closer than we’ve ever been, and I truly can not wait for the the day when we won’t just be looking at the trees, we’ll be standing beneath them together as a family.
I love you, ODC 💜
Thank you Brian for expressing your feelings.
I strongly believe u r innocent i was there at that trial with your aunt Hilda and in every witness and every evidence, I am not a expert on any of this
but clearly in my eyes and ears u r innocent, God will give u the strength to go on and I pray for u everyday and with God’s help it will be over soon hopefully.
God bless u Rose
B: It’s got to feel hopeless some days. Even though walls are walls and bars are bars no matter where you are, you made the best of your environment “upstate”. Now, you’re in a similar cell but a very different environment and that’s hard and painful. Take solace in the fact that this will pass. You’re closer than ever before to proving beyond doubt that you did nothing wrong. Just do the best you can in the meantime. Focus on getting through each day, because it’s one day closer 😉 Stay strong, B
These dirty tactics by the prosecutor now that the case has been moved back to the county where it was mishandled the first time around seem to be a last-ditch effort to “save face”. But the simple fact of the matter is you can’t argue with the scientific evidence that proved that poor kid died of injuries from days before (and not being brought to his doctor for his recommended follow-up appointments) and not from an injury inflicted on him that day, as was alleged by the Commonwealth in the original case.
One would think the “good guys” would be interested in bringing forth the truth and making sure justice was carried out…. but instead we see them scrambling to cover their asses and make poor Brian and his family suffer even longer for what?? For proving them wrong on their own “ball field”? You should have seen how unprofessional the guy acted at the evidentiary hearing as he became more and more frustrated while realizing #1 that he simply couldn’t understand half of what was being presented to the court… and #2 what he COULD understand of it was pointing toward a big LOSS on his record and an embarrassment to his office and colleagues. Cutting respected Doctors off mid-sentence, slamming papers down on his table like a child.. it was pitiful.
Keep fighting the good fight Brian! The TRUTH shall set you free! #FreePexioto