2021 Making An Exoneree Cases

Rodney Derrickson

This documentary tells the story of Rodney Derrickson, who was sentenced to life in prison when he was 17 years old. One of the key witnesses against him later admitted that he was pressured to testify by police, and no physical evidence ever tied Rodney to the crime.

This film was created by Georgetown students Josiah Laney, Abriana Saenz, and Kelly Goonan.

Arlando “Tray” Jones III

This documentary tells the story of Arlando “Tray” Jones III, who was incarcerated for 36 years. No physical evidence tied him to the crime, and his wrongful conviction relied on inconsistent witness statements. Tray was just 16 when he was arrested.

This film was created by Georgetown students Michelle Dubovitsky, Frances Trousdale, and Cynthia Garcia.

Update: Tray was released and returned home to Baltimore on July 29, 2022 after 37 years. He has since accepted a full time position with Georgetown as a Program Associate for the Prisons and Justice Initiative.

Melvin Ortiz

This documentary tells the story of Melvin Ortiz, who was sentenced to life as a teenager. Despite a lack of physical evidence and more than a dozen alibi witnesses, a web of corruption led Melvin to be wrongfully convicted 23 years ago. Now, one of those witnesses tells what really happened that night in 1997.

This film was created by Georgetown students Ismary Guardarrama, Morgan Peterson, and Francesca Truitt.

Charles Santana

This documentary tells the story of Charles Santana, a man wrongfully convicted of a crime that his brother committed. Charles had little chance to prove his innocence in court; he was tried in an unfair and prejudicial dual trial alongside his brother Alex. Witnesses who could have supported Charles’s story were never called.

This film was created by Natalie Orsi, Stacie Hartman, and Tyler Stapleton.

Raymond Allan Warren

This documentary tells the story of Raymond Allan Warren, who was wrongfully convicted of murder as a teenager and has spent 26 years in prison. Testimony from a coerced 15-year-old and faulty physical evidence helped put Allan behind bars. A missed deadline has kept him from proving his innocence in court.

This film was created by Georgetown students Eleanor Haney, Kayla Wyatt, and Michael Yedibalian.