My name is Mr. James Harold Strothers AKA James Strouthers AKA James Strother. I’m currently incarcerated at the Arkansas Department of Correction at Cummins Prison.
I have been locked away from society for 50 long years for a crime I did not commit. By me being an African American black male back in 1971, I did not have a chance. I was beaten by the North Little Rock Police Department until I signed a confession paper because I could not read or write at the time. I was then judged by the color of my skin by an all white jury and sentenced to life in prison.
Since 1999, I have petition for release through executive clemency, each time the board has recommended release for parole, but during this time period, every sitting governor in Arkansas, who has the final decision, denied me.
I was 23 years old when I entered Cummins Unit, and now I’m 73 years old, and still locked up for a crime I did not do. I was convicted of 1st degree murder in 1971 of Marshall Stout a white male and liquor store owner. I’m asking for someone to re-open my case and do a new investigation.
My first public defender lawyer was also the private family attorney of the victim, Marshall Stout. Karen Bogard, a white female teenage witness, was the first one to find the victim’s body. In two separate statements to the police, she gave a description of a white male leaving the scene of the crime immediately after the shooting. The police later identified Rubin Davis, an African American male, as a trucker that was in the area that night.
Rubin Davis was dying of cancer several years ago, and prior to his death was rumored to have confessed to the killing of Marshall Stout. Betty Sue Pye, an African American female was my girlfriend at the time. She had a twin brother by the name of Billy Joe Pye. Pye stated that the police threatened to charge her and her brother with the murder of Marshall Stout if she didn’t say that I killed Stout. Betty Sue Pye didn’t testify at trial and the state claimed to send her to juvenile detention for her alleged role.
Recently, my family got in touch with the NAACP Legal Redress Committee Advocate, Rizelle Aaron, and he located Betty Sue Pye by telephone in Palo Alto, California. Betty Sue confirmed the previous information. Pye stated that she never was sent to juvenile detention, but instead her family was told to get her out of town. Pye stated that she was afraid to give a statement on record with the information because she didn’t know if she could be prosecuted at this time for giving the false statement that convicted me.
There was never DNA, blood sample, or a hair follicle test done for evidence. They did not have any fingerprints or a gun. I was picked up and accused of a murder I did not commit. I have maintained my innocence and have been an exemplary inmate and have not received any disciplinary actions while incarcerated during the past 48 years. I have been approved for clemency by the parole board, but multiple governors in Arkansas – Mike Huckabee, Mike Beebe, and Asa Hutchinson have refused to sign off to release me. I’m now 73 years old with several health conditions. I have been positive for the COVID-19 virus and fear for my life. I would like to at least die being a free African American.
Do Black Lives really matter? I’ve been under the gun all of my life and put through slavery. Could someone please save me and help get my freedom!
– James H. Strothers