Cyntoia Brown is the latest to share her legal system nightmare in a new documentary for Netflix.
On Monday, July 1, 2019, Netflix announced the acquisition of a feature that will expand on Daniel H. Birman’s documentary Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story. For that reason, Birman will join the new project as director.
Brown was arrested at the age of 16 for the murder of a 43-year-old man who purchased her for sex. After being tried as an adult, Cyntoia was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
Brown, who has already served 15 years in prison, would not be eligible for her first parole date for another 36 years.
The case made national headlines after impassioned pleas on social media from stars, including Rihanna, Kim Kardashian West and Ashley Judd, before entering a clemency hearing. After facing 10 years of legal setbacks, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam granted Brown clemency.
The new feature will delve further into Cyntoia’s narrative with an in-depth look at her life in prison. Beginning with her 2004 conviction, the documentary will continue to follow Cyntoia until her scheduled August 2019 release.
Brown is the latest victim of a broken legal system that will have the opportunity to share her story. During the initial trial, she testified that her captor purchased her for sex. In court documents, she went on to say that his erratic behavior made her fear for her life and that the murder was in self-defense. Additionally, Brown said she stole money from her rapist post-mortem for fear of returning to her pimp, nicknamed “Cut Throat,” empty-handed.
Brown is reportedly a model inmate and acquired an associate degree in 2015.
Netflix has yet to release an official name for the Cyntoia Brown documentary. Susy Garciasalas Barkley and Megan Chao join director Daniel H. Birman as producers.
