Help Artis Whitehead after his exoneration.
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Hi, my name is Lane Shuler and I'm raising funds to help Artis Whitehead rebuild his life after being exonerated from his prison sentence.
On May 9th, 2002, a robbery occurred at B.B. King’s Blues Club on Beale Street. Over 8 months later a Crime Stoppers tip named Artis as the perpetrator.
No physical evidence linked Artis to the crime, he did not match the description of the perpetrator, and fingerprints and palm prints found on items at the scene did not match Artis. Further, he was attending a mandatory first day of work training the day of the robbery nearly 20 miles away; this alibi was never presented during his trial.
Ultimately the trial court sentenced Whitehead to consecutive sentences totaling 249 years. Artis served almost 21 years in prison for crimes he did not commit. He lost many friends and his parents while he was incarcerated, and he is ready to start the next chapter in his life.
The Tennessee Innocence Project was able to uncover new evidence showing the Crime Stoppers tip was false and the tipster lied, blaming Artis so that the tipster could get credit for his own pending criminal charges.
In December, a judge presented a 93-page order that found that Whitehead was entitled to relief on multiple legal grounds. After 21 years wrongly convicted, he was free.
Artis is hoping to get a car so he is independent and can get back and forth to a job. He worked 2-3 jobs while in prison, and he looks forward to staying busy on the outside.
Listen to Artis's interview with Carlos Whittaker here to get to know him and his story:
Read more about his story here:
Organizer and beneficiary
Lane Shuler
Organizer
Maryville, TN
Artis Whitehead
Beneficiary