Gov. Haslam Reviewing Cyntoia Brown Case

NASHVILLE, TN -- Tennessee's governor is preparing to review the 13-year-old case of Cyntoia Brown, who was convicted of murdering a john who solicited sex from her. The case has drawn increased attention as celebrities have expressed support for her release.

Haslam's administration is gathering information from the case, though the governor has said he has not seen Brown's appeal for clemency from her life sentence. The 29-year-old is not eligible for parole until she is 67.

On Aug. 6, 2004, Brown, who was then 16 and was forced into prostitution by her drug-dealer boyfriend known as “Kutthroat,” was picked up by a 43-year-old man outside a Murfreesboro Pike Sonic. She went back to his home, they got into bed and she shot him in the head. Brown claimed self-defense but was convicted.

Her case has been a latent cause celebre for years among criminal justice reform advocates, but has grown a much higher profile in recent months as celebrities including LeBron James, Kim Kardashian West and Rhianna have tweeted their support and added their backing to a petition that has drawn more than a quarter million signatures.

Haslam hasn't yet freed any prisoners since taking office and traditionally, Tennessee governors don't issue clemency or pardons until late in their second terms.

Image via State of Tennessee