This Saturday, Lorelei and I drove to Jefferson City, Missouri, to tour the Missouri State Penitentiary, where my friend Darryl was falsely imprisoned. He spent 24 years behind bars as an innocent man. I met Darryl in seminary, and together we're forming a nonprofit (MiracleOfInnocence.org) with a dynamic team, working to free other innocent people.
This tour brought his story into the stark light and rank dim of reality. I could have never imagined such a horrible place as this prison, or the anguish of being enslaved in it for the crime of being a black man in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Kyra, Darryl and Val's granddaughter, rode in the car with Lorelei and me, and caravanned out with my friend Mary (who took many of these photos--thanks Mary!), a group of teens who wrote a hero report about Darryl, and Darryl's family. Lorelei and Kyra had a blast picking songs to listen to on the drive. Both of the girls are 12 years old, and expressed so much anxiety, discomfort and fright at what they were seeing. During part of the tour, Lorelei was getting fidgety with anxiety, sensing the darkness all around. I leaned in, and reminded her that people like Darryl need us to witness their darkness, and open our eyes to it. And then we open the eyes of the world.
Darryl spent several years in this building. Our expressions seem entirely inappropriate to the sombre place, but we were crossing a rickety bridge and Darryl must have cracked some joke that made me laugh.
Lorelei faced a lot of fears this day.
This photo below does a better job capturing how we felt. Darryl, the miracle man who has found forgiveness and freedom. Lorelei, filled with fear but standing solid. Me with a fire in my bones to fight injustice.
This was our view. Darryl was in cell four, on the first floor.
This was a neighboring building, where Darryl was also imprisoned in different cells. Mary captured such a beautiful picture--I think we'll use it for the website.
We ended the tour at the gas chamber, and it flooded me with memories of Dachau. The chamber was built by submarine engineers, the door of the strange white chamber inside a submarine door, with a mirror so that the prisoner could spend his last moments looking into the faces behind him in the viewing area. There was a cross on the ground just before you walked in.
I'm always amazed by my friend, watching God work continued miracles through his life. He embodies the prophet's zeal to set the captives free. And together, by God, we'll free more innocent souls.
Miracle of Innocence Team & Board
Back row: David & Laurian Lytle, Leo Morton, Darryl & Val Burton, Diana Stuart, Connie Stella
Front: Me, Alison Summers, Mary Haines, Elizabeth Patterson
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