Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office,

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, 

Ohio Innocence Project

Traveon Hughes is an innocent father serving time for a crime he did not commit. His 3-month-old son died under questionable circumstances, and despite no forensic evidence, no eyewitnesses, and a prosecutor’s own admission of bias, Traveon remains behind bars. We demand his immediate exoneration and a full investigation into this miscarriage of justice.

In 2024, my son Traveon Hughes was wrongfully convicted in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, of murdering his baby son, Traveon Hughes Jr. The prosecution claimed that Traveon stuffed a baby wipe down the child’s throat. This accusation was never backed by forensic evidence, DNA, or credible medical proof.

The truth is even more disturbing:

The prosecutor admitted during the appeal that she judged Traveon not based on facts, but on “character flaws” such as his tattoos and personal life.
The baby’s body was illegally cremated without family consent, destroying any chance of an independent autopsy.
Trial transcripts and medical records have been withheld from the family.
Two other adults were present during the incident but were never held accountable.
Traveon’s defense attorney was unprepared, misled the family, and withheld evidence, allowing this injustice to happen.

Traveon is a father, a son, and a human being who deserves freedom. This isn’t just about one man,  it’s about a system that has failed too many Black men and families like mine.

We are demanding:

The immediate release of all public records and evidence
An independent review of the case
The exoneration and freedom of Traveon Hughes (Inmate #A812282)

This is a call to action. Please sign and share this petition to shine a national spotlight on this injustice and help bring Traveon home.

Sandra B. Norwood

Mother of Traveon Hughes

Crete, Illinois