“26 years ago, I was still clinging onto the delusion that the justice system actually served JUSTICE.” - Mike Crump

Learn more about Mike’s case by reading Part 5 of Mike's own description of his wrongful conviction, presented by the Death Row Soul Collective on Facebook on May 20, 2022. 

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Part 5 - Holding onto that glimmer of hope

Mike speaks…

After the judge’s guilty verdict at the trial, I had to retrace the steps I had taken earlier that day. I changed back into my jail clothes and was escorted back to the jail; the same jail I had left only hours earlier feeling full of positivity and confidence that I would be going home.

The look of surprise on my fellow inmates’ faces as they saw me return reflected just a tiny fraction of the shock and devastation I was feeling inside. They hadn’t expected me back. Everyone was so sure I was going home that day. Nobody believed for a moment that this would be the outcome. No one thought I would be back in that jail – and now as a convicted murderer. That is a label that still devastates and angers me in equal measures today.

I did not want to talk to anyone after the trial. I went straight back to my cell after telling my fellow inmates that the judge had found me guilty. They had the expected reaction of “what the f***?, “nah that’s crazy!”, “you gonna be ok man!”.

Once back in my cell, I hung a sheet over the lower bunk part of the bunk bed which was allocated to me, before climbing in. I didn’t want to leave that space I had built for myself with that bed sheet. I didn’t want to talk to anyone.

I couldn’t face the reality of what had just played out in the courtroom. I kept asking how? Why? I am innocent - surely they can't get away with this?

Later that evening, the commotion I heard outside prompted me to leave my cell for a few moments. It was the evening news. The TV channel was announcing that Michael Crump had been found guilty of the murder of Eric ‘Nike’ Jones. I know it may sound selfish, but after the judge read his verdict, I hadn’t even thought about Nike. All I could think about was me, my future and what my family were going through.

The TV channel showed the chaos after the verdict, my family and friends in uproar…And then they showed my mom…distraught… tears running down her face…Seeing her like that on that TV screen broke my heart into a million pieces. I immediately returned to the refuge of my cell. I had only just turned 19 the month before and I knew I had to be strong, but in that moment I didn’t feel strong. I didn’t want to leave my bed. I didn’t want to face the reality that my conviction for murder was real, and that I wasn’t going home to my mom and sisters any time soon.

I have had bad experiences in my life, but nothing compares to that day in 1996. That was, and still is, the worst day of my entire life.

The following days passed in a blur, and I walked around in this surreal bubble.

Several days after the verdict, my defender visited me with the private investigator who had been working on the case. The P.I. did most of the talking while my defender sat there stony faced barely saying a word. It was as if he didn’t even want to look at me. I wanted to grab him and ask “what the hell happened?? You told me it would be OK!!!! You said I was going home!!!” but I kept my composure. They were telling me that an appeal would be submitted, that they would get me out of there. It was what I wanted to hear, and once again, I was convinced that my appeal would expose that my conviction was ridiculous - that I was clearly innocent of this despicable crime.

I had to hold onto that glimmer of hope. I had no other choice. Thus, despite the devastation I felt after my trial, I continued to tell myself that it would be ok. We would win the appeal and I could finally go home.

Yes, 26 years ago, I was still clinging onto the delusion that the justice system actually served JUSTICE. I was still clinging onto the hope that the truth would prevail. I was still clinging onto the idea that I would be home with my family soon because I was INNOCENT.

Obviously now, at the age of 45, I realise how deluded I was, but I continued to work with my public defender towards my appeal, convincing myself he was on my side. Convincing myself that he would finally get me the justice I deserved.

I was now also a victim. Unlike Nike, I thanked God that I was still alive and breathing, but I knew that if I didn’t fight, my life was no longer going to be mine. I was going to be labelled a murderer for the rest of my life, for something I did not do.

*At the age of just 18 years old, Michael Crump was arrested and wrongfully convicted of the tragic murder of 21-year-old Eric “Nike” Jones in Virginia after an eyewitness misidentified Mike due to his hoodie.

*Please sign and share this petition, which the nonprofit UNCUFF THE INNOCENT will be using to support Michael Crump's case for freedom by urging Virginia’s Governor and Attorney General to investigate his wrongful conviction. 

#WrongfulConviction 

#InnocenceMatters 

#FreeMikeCrump