Dear supporters and future supporters,

I hope and pray all is well with everyone and your families. Your continued support of my cause and innocence is highly appreciated. My journey has been long and have taken a serious toll on my family, friends and myself. I’ve watched from afar as my kids turned into adults. I still recall my oldest daughter sending me pictures she had drawn in elementary school of stick figures and the words: I miss and love you.” Fast forward 2 decades later — she has gone to college, lives in her own house and now is a mother…

The wall that injustice has placed between family, friends and supporters of the innocent is literally indescribable. Our constant nightmare is relived every time we open our eyes still in prison. Wrongful convictions do not only affect innocent prisoners, it tears family structures apart. One thing we can NEVER get back is the lost time. I have a brother and 2 (two) sisters that have never came to see me during these 20 years. I’ve had no contact with my biological father in over 20 years. No choice of my own. Before my wrongful conviction was reinstated, I forgave them and let them know how much I needed them. I’m known to smile a lot and even through these tough times, my smile remains. Am I angry, bitter, frustrated and disappointed due to my situation? Without a doubt. I take this constant pain and anguish and direct it towards my fight to prove my innocence, at the same time educate society first hand on the struggle of innocent prisoners. There is no idea in regards of what it’s like to walk in the shoes of us innocent prisoners — there’s no ifs or buts about that.

I now have a new judge and I’m awaiting court dates, which should be very soon. In a lot of situations, the truth can help, hurt or change someone. For Lorenzo Johnson, the truth will eventually set me free. The sad thing is, the people society rely on to make sure justice is served are personally responsible for false arrest and conviction. They knew I was innocent from day one. Meanwhile, for 20 years an innocent man is in prison while a murderer walks the streets… A lot of times innocent prisoners get a backlash from speaking out in concerns with their wrongful convictions. I totally disagree with the notion that, you don’t want to make noise about our innocence and Etc. As if innocent prisoners and our families are supposed to be silent while we are steadily being tortured for being innocent. If our rolls were reversed, they also would want everyone to scream at the top of their lungs to whoever would listen. I’m a firm believer that by being silent, that helps wrongful convictions continue to be swept under the rug until necessary action is taken–that’s if that action is ever taken.

I’m human and at times I fall into mental slumps. I’ve been blessed to have an exoneree [Jeffrey Deskovic] as a best friend. Just recently, I was falling into a mental slump, I called Jeff and after speaking to him for a half hour, I was good. Innocent prisoners may have family, friends or supporters — but, no one can relate to our pain like someone who had/have our shoes on. I would like to thank the following exonerees who have been in touch with me: Jeffrey Deskovic, Derrick Hamilton, Eugene Gilyard, Obie Anthony, Jarrett Adams, Harold Wilson and William Lopes (RIP).

Once again, I want to thank ALL of my supporters. Please continue until we can make a difference. Feel free to use my articles. For those who can make a financial donation please do it’s needed. Everyone who writes me knows I personally respond. Feel free to contact me. For those outside of the country and would like to help raise awareness about my injustice, contact me.

“The Pain Within”
Free The Innocent,
Lorenzo ‘Cat’ Johnson

©9/27/15