Free Patricia Prewitt

On February 18, 1984, when I was 34, my husband was shot and killed in our rural

home. Although I was also

attacked by the perpetrator, the local law enforcement

personnel immediately considered me the prime suspect.

The lead investigator

stated that a great many murders are domestic, and the county police looked at no

one but

me,

even though I had absolutely nothing to do with this horrendous crime.

(read the

clemency packet

or the

testimony

for more information.)

In our small town setting, police quickly were informed that my husband and I had been

unfaithful to each other

years before when our marriage was in trouble and we lived in

separate residences. I regret that time more than

can ever say. (In 1997 during my

clemency hearing with the late Governor Carnahan’s chief counsel, we

discussed

the

rape I endured when I was 25 and how it adversely affected my marriage.) But at least

six years

prior to my

husband’s death, we had worked through the barrier that

traumatic ordeal placed between us, and

we were again

living together very happily

and peacefully in one household with our five children. The police

thoroughly searched

least a four-county area looking for a recent paramour to no avail.

The police also found life insurance policies in the file cabinet at our home, and

although they were not all active

and

we actually did not possess enough insurance to

cover our debts, the prosecutor was undaunted as he

proclaimed

“lust and greed” as

motives. In April of 1985 I had a four-day jury trial, turned down plea agreement

offers,

was

convicted and sentenced to life with no parole for 50 years, then released on

appeal bond to resume

care of the

children.

Several of the trial observers remarked that I was actually convicted of adultery since

the state had no actual proof

and there was plenty of doubt. Not long after the verdict

was rendered, we stumbled upon knowledge that the

prosecution withheld evidence of

a strange man who was seen observing our home the night of the murder. We

also

found out that the state’s pathologist was known to bend his theories to confirm

prosecutorial scenarios and

a controversial paid witness. None of this information

was taken into account by the appeal court, and in April

1986 I was forced to

abandon my five young children to enter prison.

All appeal attempts have proved futile, so in 1996, I petitioned Governor Mel Carnahan

for mercy in the form of

commutation of sentence under authority of executive

clemency. In December of 1997, I was personally

interviewed

by Governor Carnahan’

s chief counsel Joe Bednar. In the months that followed, Governor Carnahan

indicated

several of my supporters, who include reputable state legislators, that he planned to

sign my

commutation after the

controversial and heated November 1999 U.S. Senate

race, but the tragic plane crash that

claimed his life ended

that promise. We are

currently waiting for Governor Bob Holden to conclude the unfinished

business he

inherited

from the previous administration.

I have served over 16 years in prison, my record is excellent, and my accomplishments

are formidable. I’ve taken

advantage of every class and course available to me.

Currently I’m employed as a computer programmer/analyst

and write software for the

Missouri Department of Corrections as the shop lead.

--Patty Prewitt, 2002

What Happened