10 Alarming Details Surrounding Cyontia Brown, The Sex Trafficking Victim Who Was Imprisoned For Murdering The Man Who The Man Who Purchased Her

6 /10 Cyontia Taken Into Custody

In room 302 of the InTown Suites on Murfreesboro Road, not far from the Walmart, the detectives and several police officers found Cyontia and McGlothen.

Just as soon as the police opened the door, she ran out while shouting that her male friend had nothing to do with the murder and she would tell the police everything.

Cyontia was arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery. In the room, police found a rifle, a shotgun, and the victim’s car key. She was immediately taken into Davidson County Criminal Justice Center for an interview.

5 /10 Murder In The First Degree

Cyontia told the police that the .40 caliber handgun she used to kill the victim was her own, not one of the victim’s collections.

During the interview, she claimed to have dropped the gun and could have been at the crime scene. The police never recovered it.

Cyontia denied that she was a prostitute, adding she went from place to place to find people who would provide her with shelter and food.

She said that the man seen with her in the motel room was a person she had met earlier in the parking lot.

4 /10 Motive: Robbery

Cyontia was later charged with at least one count of first-degree premeditated murder, one count of first-degree felony murder, and aggravated robbery.

A juvenile court found her competent to be tried as an adult, despite her being 16-year-old. Prosecutors argued that the killing was not motivated by self-defense but robbery.

Cyontia claimed she killed because she feared for her life seeing Johnny’s behavior in the room; she also took money from him to fear returning empty-handed and getting beaten and raped by her pimp Kut Throat.

3 /10 Sentenced To Life

She was found guilty of murder and robbery and received a life sentence. The law dictated that she serve at least 51 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

For a teenage victim of sex trafficking, many considered the punishment excessive. For many years, she maintained that she had been wrongfully convicted and the killing was an act of self-defense.

Juvenile sentencing guidelines have been amended; if Cyontia were to be arrested today, she would be treated as a victim. The courts today would see her as an underage sex slave, not a murderer.

2 /10 Model Prisoner

Her struggle for release and to overturn her conviction brought prominent lawyers and big-name celebrities to her side.

She had support from LeBron James, Rihanna, and Kim Kardashian West, among other stars. While incarcerated, Cyontia was a model prisoner and managed to continue her education.

She earned a G.E.D. in March 2005 (with a score of 656), a bachelor’s degree in Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership in May 2019, and an associate degree in Liberal Arts in December 2015 – the latter two with 4.0 G.P.A. from Lipscomb University.

1 /10 Release

Her legal team challenged her life sentence citing a 2012 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court saying that giving juveniles life sentences was unusual and cruel.

It was a long battle, but Cyontia Brown finally received clemency and was released with ten years’ probation on August 7, 2019, after serving 15 years in prison.

Conditions for her parole include maintaining employment or educational enrollment, regular counseling, and 50 hours of community service.

According to her attorney, a sentence of 15 years is typical for a second-degree murder conviction.