A Man's Fight for Freedom After 15 Years Behind Bars

In the quiet town of Hemingway, South Carolina, Michael Pearson is adjusting to life after spending 15 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. The silence at night is a stark contrast to the noise of prison life, which he now finds himself missing. Pearson's journey has been anything but easy. He lost his teeth due to poor dental care in prison and his feet hurt from wearing ill-fitting shoes. Simple tasks like going to the store can be overwhelming. But he is grateful for his freedom every day. In prison, Pearson faced brutality and hopelessness. He attempted suicide twice, feeling like he had exhausted all options to prove his innocence. He witnessed beatings, stabbings, and suicide attempts. He even had to clean up blood off the floor while working on the custodial staff. Pearson was first arrested five days after a robbery. He was sure the police would realize their mistake and let him go. But his appeals were denied, and he felt like he was stuck in prison until he was 98 years old. In 2022, Pearson's co-defendant, Victor Weldon, won an appeal and agreed to plead guilty. Weldon confessed to the crime and said Pearson had nothing to do with it. But two years went by with no movement in Pearson's case. It wasn't until the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence took up his case that things started to move. In August, Pearson was finally released from prison. He is now planning to sue for his wrongful incarceration. Pearson's transition to freedom has been difficult, but he has support from his family and the community. He is working to rebuild his life and find a sense of independence. He hopes his case will bring about changes in the system that took 15 years of his life.