Thompson & Cotton: Injustice & Redemption
The story of Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton is one of injustice and redemption. In 1984, Jennifer Thompson testified that Ronald Cotton raped her. He was sentenced to life in prison. Eleven years later, DNA evidence cleared him of the crime. They went on to write a memoir together about their experience.
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ABOUT Jennifer Thompson-Cannino
“In 1984, Jennifer Thompson was a 22-year-old college student. Her life was dramatically altered when a man broke into her apartment, put a knife to her throat, and raped her.
With great determination she focused all her attention on memorising the man’s features, and she was certain that she could put him in prison for life. After a composite sketch, line-up identification, and trial, her testimony and memory led to a life sentence for Ronald Cotton.
Several years later Jennifer was asked to provide a DNA sample following a request by Ronald to the Board of Appeals. The results confirmed that Ronald was not the rapist. Devastated that her actions had led to the imprisonment of an innocent man, Jennifer eventually reached out to Ronald to apologise, and in an act of true generosity, he forgave her.
Jennifer now speaks frequently about the need for judicial reform, and is a member of the North Carolina Actual Innocence Commission, the Advisory Committee for Active Voices, the Constitution Project, and Mothers for Justice.”
ABOUT Ronald Cotton
“It was while he was watching the O.J. Simpson case that Ronald learnt about DNA testing. He believed he’d finally found a way to prove his innocence. He wrote to the Board of Appeals.
Jennifer was asked to provide a DNA sample for further analysis of the case. She agreed to the request, positive that her identification of Ronald would be upheld by science. Both lives changed again when it was revealed that Ronald was not her rapist. After spending 11 years in prison as an innocent man, he was released.
Ronald Cotton lives with his family in North Carolina and currently works at an insulation plant. He has spoken at various schools and conferences including Washington and Lee University, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Georgetown Law School, and the Community March for Justice for Troy Anthony Davis in Savannah, GA.
Their unlikely friendship became the basis for the Soros Justice Media Fellowship Award-winner and New York Times best-selling book ‘Picking Cotton’ which is being made into a movie. Producers David Friendly (Little Miss Sunshine), Mark Clayman (The Pursuit of Happyness) and Michael Menchel have teamed up to develop a film based on the book. Todd Komarnicki will write the adaptation.
These days, they travel the country together, sharing their stories and speaking out, revealing the power that lies in forgiveness and through the Innocence Project promote understanding about flaws in the criminal-justice system.”
* Photo Credit: Scott Witter
The VIDEO
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1. Book: Picking Cotton 2. Innocence Project
