Angel Bumpass was convicted for a murder that occurred in 2009 when she was 13 years old. Despite her claims of innocence, she was found guilty in 2019 and sentenced to life in prison.
In 2009, a man named Franklin Bonner was found murdered in his home, bound with duct tape. The case went cold for years until new evidence emerged linking Angel Bumpass to the crime scene through fingerprints on the duct tape. At the time of the murder, Bumpass was only 13 years old, making her one of the youngest individuals to be tried for murder in Tennessee.
The case against Bumpass was largely circumstantial, with the prosecution arguing that her fingerprints on the duct tape were proof of her involvement in the crime. The defense argued that the fingerprints could have been placed there at a different time, as Bumpass had been in the house previously, given that her aunt had been dating Bonner.
During the trial, no direct evidence, such as DNA or eyewitness testimony, linked Bumpass to the murder at the time it occurred. The jury, however, found the fingerprint evidence compelling enough to convict her. Bumpass maintained her innocence throughout the trial and continues to do so.
Her conviction has sparked controversy and debate over the fairness of the criminal justice system, especially in cases involving juvenile defendants. Advocates for Bumpass argue that the evidence was insufficient for a conviction and that she deserves a new trial. As of my knowledge cutoff in 2023, Angel Bumpass remains in prison, serving a life sentence, with efforts underway by her supporters to appeal the conviction and seek a new trial.