Sex trafficking victim Cyntoia Brown released from prison

Cyntoia Brown, who was sentenced to life in prison at the age of 16 after she admitted to killing a man who had solicited sex from her, was released on Wednesday. 

Tennessee’s Department of Corrections said in a statement that she was released from the Tennessee Prison for Women to parole supervision.

{mosads}“I look forward to using my experiences to help other women and girls suffering abuse and exploitation,” Brown, who earned her high school equivalency diploma and an associate’s degree while in prison, told The New York Times in a statement. 

Brown, 31, had spent the last 15 years in prison. Her case garnered significant attention and celebrities including Rihanna and Kim Kardashian West have expressed support for her.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (R) commuted Brown’s sentence earlier this year.

In a statement at the time, Haslam said that imposing “a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole consideration is too harsh, especially in light of the extraordinary steps Ms. Brown has taken to rebuild her life.”

According to the Times, Brown testified that she thought the man she killed, Johnny Allen, was reaching for a gun. She shot him in his sleep, court documents said. 

Brown’s lead attorney, Charles Bone, told the newspaper that the words that will be used to tell Brown’s story will include “redemption, education, rehabilitation, salvation, mercy and freedom.”

A GoFundMe set up to help Brown after her release had garnered more than $19,000 as of Wednesday morning.

–Updated at 8:22 a.m.