Helping to free the innocent and providing care when they come home
Exonerees
JOSEPH AMRINE
Missouri |27 Years Incarcerated |1976 Pardoned 2003
From Death Row to Rebuilding with Purpose. Joe Amrine spent 27 years in prison - 17 of them on death row - for a crime he did not commit. Wrongly convicted and facing execution, Joe’s freedom was finally restored on July 28, 2003. But with his release came the daunting task of starting over, alone and uncertain of where to turn. “Darryl was already talking about Miracle of Innocence before he even got out,” Joe recalls. The idea of a support system for exonerees - created by exonerees - was more than inspiring; it was exactly what was missing. For Joe, Miracle of Innocence has lived up to its name. The organization provided tangible support, helping him with essential tasks like renovating his home. More importantly, MOI offered the kind of understanding and care that only comes from those who’ve walked the same path. “Miracle of Innocence has done a lot for me,” Joe shares. “But more importantly, they’ve done a lot for people like me.” What sets Miracle of Innocence apart, Joe says, is the authenticity of its leadership. Co-founders Darryl Burton and Lamonte McIntyre - both of whom endured wrongful incarceration -lead with empathy, passion, and firsthand knowledge of what freedom truly requires. One of Joe’s most meaningful moments with the organization came during a retreat for exonerees. He describes it as a time of healing and connection - a powerful reminder that he’s not alone. “It was more than just a getaway. It was a moment to feel seen, to feel part of something.” “Darryl and Lamonte hit the ground running with Miracle of Innocence,” he says. “They lead by example. They’re not just involved. They care.” Today, Joe continues to rebuild his life with the support of a community that sees his dignity, values his experience, and walks with him every step of the way.
JOHNNY BRISCOE
Missouri | 24 Years Incarcerated |1982 Exonerated 2006
Finding New Life After Wrongful Conviction. In 1982, Johnny Briscoe was wrongly accused and convicted of a crime he did not commit. Misidentified in a police lineup, he was sentenced to 45 years in Missouri State Prison. For 24 years, Johnny fought to prove his innocence. Despite multiple appeals being denied, he never gave up hope. Eventually, Centurion Ministries took on Johnny’s case and uncovered a critical piece of overlooked evidence - a cigarette butt left at the crime scene. DNA testing revealed that the sample did not match Johnny’s. In 2006, after more than two decades of wrongful imprisonment, he was finally exonerated and released. But freedom wasn’t easy. “It was hard in the beginning to start all over again,” Johnny recalled. Reentering society after 24 years behind bars left him disoriented, with no clear path forward. That’s when Miracle of Innocence stepped in. From the start, Miracle of Innocence provided Johnny with the support he needed to rebuild his life. The organization helped him secure housing, offered emotional and practical assistance, and connected him with a caring community of fellow exonerees. Whether it was an invitation to a retreat, encouragement at a difficult time, or a place at the table during their annual gala, MOI became a trusted source of stability, friendship, and care. “They were supporting me with anything that needed to be done,” Johnny shared. Today, Johnny is committed to giving back. Grateful for the role Miracle of Innocence has played in his journey, he now lends his time and voice to support others walking a similar path. “I want to help MOI and support them on any level I can,” he says.
FAYE JACOBS
Arkansas 26 Years Incarcerated |1992 Released|2018 Awaiting Full Exoneration
Finding Family, Healing, and Purpose After Years of Injustice. Faye Jacobs' path to freedom is a powerful testament to resilience, community, and the transformative impact of support. After surviving years of incarceration for a crime she maintains she did not commit, Faye’s life took a pivotal turn in 2018 when she returned home to Arkansas and crossed paths with fellow exoneree Lamonte McIntyre, co-founder of Miracle of Innocence. Through Lamonte, Faye was introduced to a circle of men and women who had also suffered the devastating injustice of wrongful conviction. Among them was Darryl Burton, MOI's other co-founder, who, like Faye, understood the lifelong toll of being falsely accused and imprisoned. This network of survivors didn’t just offer Faye friendship - they embraced her as family. As she continues to fight for full exoneration, Faye has found more than just a support system in Miracle of Innocence - she’s found a community that sees her, believes in her, and walks beside her. Through our Exoneree Care Program, Faye receives not only emotional support but practical guidance, advocacy, and connection to vital resources that are often out of reach for returning citizens. The program has given her hope, motivation, and a renewed sense of purpose. Faye describes her journey with MOI as “life-changing.” She now stands not only as a survivor but as an advocate - using her story to bring awareness to the injustices so many still face. "They didn’t just listen to my story - they invested in my life," she says. “Because of Miracle of Innocence, I found family. I found healing. And I found purpose.”
RALPH MCELROY
Missouri | 33 Years
Incarcerated|1991
Released 2024 | Awaiting Full Exoneration
Ralph McElroy at age 17 was convicted of first degree murder and spent 33 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. A court ruling forced him to be resentenced because he was a minor when the crime occurred. Ralph is free on parole and still fighting for full exoneration with the support of Miracle of Innocence.
PATTY PREWITT
Missouri | 38 Years Incarcerated |1983 Pardoned 2024| Awaiting Full Exoneration
Patty’s story is one of deep resilience and quiet strength - a journey marked by injustice, endurance, and the unbreakable will to reclaim her life. In the mid-1980s, she was wrongfully convicted of capital murder and spent decades incarcerated for a crime she did not commit. Though she has not yet been fully exonerated, her sentence was ultimately commuted, and she walked free just days before Christmas - a bittersweet milestone in a long fight for justice. Her case came to the attention of Miracle of Innocence through UMKC law professor Sean O’Brien, a longtime advocate for the wrongfully convicted. Through Sean, Patty connected with Darryl Burton, MOI co-founder and fellow survivor of wrongful conviction. In one of her first moments of freedom, Darryl reached out to offer a simple but profound gesture: a cell phone, gifted from MOI to help her begin rebuilding her life. Patty vividly remembers how Darryl negotiated to get the best deal possible -a small act that instantly revealed his compassion and commitment to those emerging from incarceration with little to their name. Today, Patty remains on parole and is actively pursuing a full pardon - a vital step in her effort to reclaim her name and dignity. As part of her healing journey, she was invited to attend a Miracle of Innocence retreat, where she reunited with Sandy Hemme, a close friend from her time in prison. That weekend, she found more than comfort - she found community. Surrounded by advocates, volunteers, and other exonerees, Patty felt what many formerly incarcerated individuals seldom receive: unconditional welcome, empathy, and hope. Now a proud mother of three daughters and one son, grandmother to seven, and great-grandmother of four, Patty continues to rebuild a life rooted in love and legacy. Miracle of Innocence’s Exoneree Care Program provides essential post-release support for clients like Patty - including housing assistance, technology access, mentorship, legal referrals, and emotional care. Our goal is to walk alongside every individual not just until release, but through restoration. “They didn’t know me - but they fought for me anyway,” Patty says. “Miracle of Innocence didn’t just give me a phone. They gave me hope.” Please buy Patty’s book today! Trying to Catch Lightning in a Jar: Letters from Prison — Some People Press
ELLEN REASONOVER
Missouri |16 Years Incarcerated |1983 Exonerated |1999
Reclaiming Life, Faith, and Freedom with the Support of Community. On August 3, 1999, Ellen Reasonover walked out of prison a free woman. But freedom didn’t mean life was easy. Ellen had spent 16 years wrongfully incarcerated for crimes she did not commit. When she returned home, the world had changed - and it wasn’t ready to support her transition. She reunited with her daughter, who was just two years old when Ellen was convicted. At the time of her arrest, Ellen had only been married for two weeks. Her husband, stationed in Florida, was expecting her to join him - until the police came to her apartment and took her away. She was charged with two unrelated offenses: murder and till tapping. When Ellen was finally exonerated, there were no services in place for exonerees - no financial assistance, no emotional support, no system designed to help her restart her life. She was suddenly alone after years of never being alone. The transition was terrifying. Thankfully, Ellen wasn’t completely without support. Her family stood by her side, and one juror from her trial - Donna Ellis, who never believed Ellen was guilty - became a vital part of her reentry journey. Ellen initially stayed with her family, but the media attention became overwhelming. Donna invited Ellen to live with her, and for six months, she helped Ellen start over: finding her a job at the post office and even co-signing her first apartment lease. Ellen’s path took a hopeful turn when she connected with Miracle of Innocence. It started with a simple $100 donation - her way of paying it forward. That gift led to a thank-you letter, a phone call from co-founder Darryl Burton, and an invitation to an MOI retreat. Ellen accepted - and the experience was transformational. “It was beautiful,” she said. “I live alone, and I needed that community. I needed that fresh air.” At the retreat, Ellen reunited with friends Patty and Sandy, women she’d spent time with inside prison but hadn’t seen in over 25 years. “If it wasn’t for MOI, I would have never gotten to see them again. I was so happy to see my family.” They laughed, sang, played games, shared meals, and - most importantly - reconnected as free people. For Ellen, it wasn’t just a retreat. It was healing. Throughout everything, Ellen’s faith never wavered. “I always knew I was going to get out,” she said. Her family fought tirelessly, advocating on radio stations, telling her story to anyone who would listen. Her daughter, only seven at the time, made sure her mother’s voice was heard. Today, Ellen is rebuilding her life with resilience, gratitude, and a love for simple pleasures, like fishing. She credits God, her family, and Miracle of Innocence for helping her find freedom, connection, and peace after so many years lost.