Malcolm Alexander from Louisiana was accused of rape in 1979. He was 21 years old when he was given a life sentence without parole for a crime he didn’t commit. Malcolm has maintained his innocence about the crime, but still, the judge who handled his case found him guilty of the crime.
Malcolm was sent to Angola to serve his life sentence.
While in prison, Malcolm was part of the program that raises puppies. One of the puppies that he raised was the nine-month-old dog named Innocent (or Inn for short). Malcolm and Innocent had a good time together.
In 1996, Innocence Project got interested in his case and volunteered to review the case. They requested to reopen the case and found new evidence to prove Malcolm’s innocence. The hair evidence was subjected to DNA testing and the results turned in favor of Malcolm.
However, Malcolm had to leave Innocent in Angola temporarily for his indictment at Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s office.
In 2018, after serving 38 years in prison for serving a crime he didn’t commit, Malcolm is now a free man!
Malcolm felt like he was a newborn baby during his release. His family was waiting outside the walls of the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center to welcome him into his newly-found freedom. What made him more excited about his freedom was that he would enjoy spending quality moments with Innocent and create memories together.
Innocent was brought to Malcolm the day after his release. Vanessa Potkin and Melissa Sopher of the Innocence Project picked her in Angola and drove to Malcolm’s place. While in the car, Innocent looked anxious and excited to see his fur dad. She was sitting quietly inside the car while looking out the window occasionally. As soon as she got off the car, Innocent couldn’t stop wagging her tail and hugging Malcolm.
Malcolm hoped to earn by using the skills he learned while he was in prison. He learned carpentry, jewelry-making, and woodworking.
Malcolm and Innocent were nominated to join the Krewe of Barkus 2019. Krewe of Barkus was the Mardi Gras dog parade in Louisiana. Innocent would wear a cape bearing the words “Princess Innocence.”
Congratulations on your freedom, Malcolm! Enjoy good times with Innocent!
Video courtesy of NOLA.com via YouTube
