Lamar Johnson was imprisoned for 28 years for a crime that he did not commit. He had a pen pal named Ginny Schrappen, who wrote to him frequently while he was incarcerated, so he did not give up hope. The first person he wanted to meet after being freed was Schrappen, who had been by his side throughout the entire ordeal.
Through a letter written to Mary, Mother of the Church in St. Louis County, Johnson introduced Schrappen to her. She chose to reply to Johnson’s letter because of his excellent longhand writing. The two wrote to one other via snail mail over the following twenty years, each letter disclosing more about themselves to the other.
Johnson maintained his innocence despite being found guilty of first-degree murder in 1994. Johnson’s sentence was upheld even after the real offenders subsequently admitted to the crime. Johnson’s case was taken up by The Innocence Project, a nonprofit that looks into closed cases in an effort to liberate innocent people from jail. After many years of advocacy, Johnson was eventually released.
Schrappen, a mother of three and eventually a grandmother of two, continued to write to Johnson and attend his court hearings throughout his trials and appeals. Throughout his incarceration, Johnson was able to keep his hope and sanity because to Schrappen’s encouragement and support.
The bond between Johnson and Schrappen goes beyond letter-writing. Schrappen periodically paid him visits in jail, which gave her a sensation of happiness that she said made her feel «almost out of my skin.» With no longer being constrained by prison walls, Johnson was able to interact with Schrappen when he was eventually released.
Johnson is not resentful of what happened, and he thinks that harboring resentment is like switching one prison for another. He is appreciative of the assistance of those who persistently battled for his release, namely Schrappen and the Innocence Project. Schrappen urges people to help others who might need them since it might mean more than they realize.
In conclusion, the love story of Ginny Schrappen and Lamar Johnson is proof of the strength of a strong bond between people. Even in the face of what seemed like insurmountable legal obstacles, they managed to sustain their relationship through letters and sporadic visits despite the odds. Their story serves as a reminder that friendship and optimism can persist even in the most trying circumstances.
