A disturbing handwritten letter has brought to light the truth in a murder case that led to the wrongful imprisonment of an innocent man for 27 years.
On September 4, Bryan Hooper Sr. was released from incarceration after spending nearly three decades behind bars for a crime he did not perpetrate.
For the duration of those 27 years, Hooper, along with his family and legal representatives, had been proclaiming his innocence. It was ultimately a handwritten confession from the real offender that secured his freedom.
Hooper’s false conviction dated back to 1998, following the discovery of 77-year-old Ann Prazniak’s body, which had been placed in a cardboard box in her bedroom closet within a Minneapolis apartment. The cause was determined to be asphyxiation.
Reports from that period indicated Prazniak had been killed up to a month prior to her body being found. During that time, neighbors noted several people entering and exiting the apartment, which was allegedly being used for illicit activities such as drugs and prostitution.
Hooper was suspected of accessing the property as his fingerprints were found on a beer can and two sandwich bags.
Additionally, a woman named Chalaka Young’s fingerprints were discovered on tape that matched the type found on Prazniak’s body.
Hooper acknowledged his presence in the apartment but consistently denied any involvement in the murder.
During the investigation, Young became a pivotal witness. Although initially she denied any knowledge, The Great North Innocence Project reports that during her fourth interview, Young altered her account and implicated Hooper, asserting she acted as a lookout while Hooper committed the murder.
At the time, Young faced other charges but received a reduced sentence in exchange for cooperating with authorities against Hooper.
The situation was similar with four additional witnesses who made statements against Hooper, purportedly in return for incentives.
Years later, these witnesses recanted their statements as being untrue.
Nevertheless, the damage was irreversible, and in 1998, a jury convicted Hooper on three counts of first-degree murder.
It would take nearly 30 years before Hooper regained his freedom.
His release was precipitated by a letter from Young confessing to the crime.
She wrote: “I am not okay any longer with [an] innocent man sitting in prison for a crime he did not commit.
“Soul [sic] purpose here is not to make any excuse but to take responsibility for two innocent lives that I have destroyed and… to make true amends for once in my life.”
On the day of her father’s release, Bri’ana Hooper expressed to the press: “Twenty-seven years of missed birthdays, missed milestones, holidays. 27 years of lost opportunity and time that we can’t get back. But today we don’t have to lose, we don’t.”
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Morarity also commented, stating: “Ms. Prazniak’s death was senseless, and it deserves justice. But we are convinced that Bryan Hooper did not commit that crime; he has been in prison for 27 years for something he didn’t do.
“We can never return what was taken from Mr. Hooper in 1998 and for that, I am sorry. However, we can do the right thing today, and today we are joining the petition to vacate Mr. Hooper’s conviction.”