After more than three decades behind bars, Mary Virginia Jones, affectionately called “Mother Mary” by loved ones, walked free at the age of 74 — finally cleared of crimes committed by her abusive partner.
Jones was convicted in 1982 for her alleged role in the fatal shootings of two drug dealers in Los Angeles. But it was her then-boyfriend, Mose Willis, who pulled the trigger. Despite not firing a shot, Jones was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
For 32 years, she remained incarcerated — a victim of both an abusive relationship and a justice system that failed to account for the realities of coercion and domestic violence.
How Justice Was Finally Won
Jones’s case was taken up by the Post-Conviction Justice Project (PCJP) at USC Gould School of Law, where law students and professors uncovered the truth behind her conviction. They demonstrated that Willis had beaten and terrorized Jones, forcing her to accompany him under threat of death.
In March 2014, the Los Angeles Superior Court overturned her conviction, and Jones was released on March 24, 2014. Family members and friends packed the courtroom that day, erupting into cheers and tears of joy when the ruling was announced.
Her attorney, Heidi Rummel, co-director of PCJP, said Jones was both a survivor of domestic abuse and a woman wrongfully imprisoned for acts she never committed.
A Survivor’s Story
Mary Jones’s ordeal highlights how survivors of domestic violence often become entangled in crimes committed by their abusers.
During her trial in the early 1980s, evidence of abuse and coercion was not fully presented, a common reality at the time when the justice system rarely acknowledged the impact of intimate partner violence.
Her release became a landmark example of the growing recognition of battered women’s defenses and the importance of revisiting wrongful convictions with fresh eyes.
Life After Prison
Friends and family welcomed Jones home, where she was celebrated not just as a survivor but as a symbol of resilience. Known for her deep faith and kindness, she earned the nickname “Mother Mary” behind prison walls for providing guidance and support to fellow inmates.
Today, her story remains a reminder of the importance of post-conviction advocacy, the failures of the justice system in addressing gender-based violence, and the enduring fight for second chances.
Why Her Case Still Matters
Jones’s release underscores the ongoing conversation about criminal justice reform, particularly in cases involving women trapped in cycles of abuse. Advocates point to her case as an example of why courts must carefully consider the role of coercion and control in criminal prosecutions.
Her freedom after 32 years in prison is not only a personal victory but also a call to continue challenging wrongful convictions and amplifying the voices of survivors.
