Mississippi woman exonerated after 11 years in prison for 2009 murder

Tameshia Shelton was released from the Clay County Detention Center Monday, her first freedom since her 2015 conviction for the 2009 shooting death of her sister’s boyfriend. Shelton, 48, was freed on a $50,000 bond with help from the Mississippi Fund Collective, according to her family and legal representatives.

Her release comes after a series of legal developments. The Mississippi Supreme Court earlier this month declined to intervene in a Court of Appeals decision that ordered a new trial, citing insufficient evidence to prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The appeals court found that Shelton’s trial lawyer failed to introduce evidence suggesting the victim’s death was a suicide, a key factor in her wrongful conviction.

Prosecutors relied on initial rulings from a deputy medical examiner that Young’s death was a homicide. The pathologist later called that conclusion an error. Additionally, conflicting testimony from deputies and a lack of physical evidence led to questions about Shelton’s guilt. Her family and the Mississippi Innocence Project have argued she was wrongfully convicted, with the DA’s office now supporting a new review of the case.

District Attorney Scott Colom, whose office has overseen the exoneration of six other wrongfully convicted individuals, reviewed Shelton’s case after her family reached out in 2018. Colom expressed skepticism about her guilt, citing the lack of motive and the fact that Shelton called 911 after the incident. He later supported efforts to grant her a new trial.

Her family, including her four children, gathered Monday to celebrate her release. Her daughter, Trinity, wrote on a GoFundMe page that Shelton’s health had deteriorated significantly during her incarceration, including suffering from strokes and seizures. Shelton, who has maintained her innocence, said she hopes to help others navigate wrongful convictions now that she is free.

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