Cyntoia Brown granted clemency 15 years after 'tragic and complex' murder sentence

Cyntoia Brown was sentenced to life in prison 15 years ago. But on Aug. 7, the 30-year-old will be released on parole after Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (R) granted her clemency on Monday.

Brown killed Johnny Allen, whom she says solicited her for sex, when she was 16. She was later tried as an adult and convicted of his murder and robbery. Prosecutors argued she "stole money and guns" while Allen was sleeping, meaning the shooting wasn't in self defense, CNN writes. Brown has been in a Tennessee jail ever since, and wouldn't be eligible for parole until after she'd served at least 51 years, Haslam said in his Monday statement.

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Kathryn Krawczyk

Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.