In recent months, social media has reignited the controversial case of Cyntoia Brown, a sex trafficking victim serving a life sentence for killing her john. Now, she's been granted a clemency hearing for May.
During the hearing, a governor-appointed board will review Brown’s petitions and determine whether she should be released from the Tennessee Prison for Women.
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This will be her first hearing since she was convicted of first-degree murder in 2006.
At age 16, Brown said she killed 43-year-old Johnny Mitchell Allen in self-defense after he solicited her for sex. She shot him after she thought he was reaching for a gun.
Although the trial concluded more than 10 years ago, many have recently cast it back into the spotlight with the viral hashtag #FreeCyntoiaBrown.
Several, including Rihanna and Kim Kardashian, have shared a post that reads, "Imagine at the age of 16 being sex-trafficked by a pimp named 'cut-throat.' After days of being repeatedly drugged and raped by different men you were purchased by a 43 year old child predator...You end up finding enough courage to fight back and shoot and kill him...This is the story of Cyntoia Brown...#FreeCyntoniaBrown."
PBS highlighted Brown's story in 2011 with a documentary titled "Me Facing Life: Cyntoia's Story." The film detailed her life of teen prostitution and the day of the fatal shooting of Allen.
Her clemency hearing is scheduled for May 23 in Tennessee.
Cox Media Group
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