John —

Father’s Day is a time for families to get together. But for the last 21 years, Jonathan Smith spent Father’s Day in prison, incarcerated for a crime he did not commit — unable to spend those days with his sons.

When Jonathan was released in April of this year, his two sons were waiting to embrace him. But spending so much time locked up can make the transition back to the community very difficult. So today, in honor of Father’s Day, we’re asking you to help Jonathan rebuild his life by contributing to his GoFundMe.

In 2001, Jonathan Smith and a co-defendant were convicted of the murder of 64-year-old Adeline Wilford in 1987 and sentenced to life in prison based on false informant testimony. Jonathan always maintained his innocence, and years later it was discovered that Maryland state prosecutors withheld evidence that could have helped prove their innocence.

In 2020, the Maryland State Court of Appeals reversed the convictions based on new palm print evidence found at the crime scene identifying an alternative suspect and exculpatory evidence about the reliability of informant testimony that the prosecution had withheld.

Home at last, Jonathan and his sons are spending their first Father’s Day together in 21 years. Jonathan said they have no particular plans yet and simply want to spend the day together:

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Jonathan Smith was released from Talbot County DOC Wednesday, April 21, 2021 after 21 years of wrongful incarceration. He was greeted by his two sons, including Jonathan Jr, pictured here lifting him. (Image: Eric Kayne/AP Images for the Innocence Project)

If you can, please help Jonathan get back on his feet by contributing to his GoFundMe:

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Thank you for your support,

— The Innocence Project Team

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The Innocence Project exonerates the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.

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