Tennessee judge throws out the case of a woman convicted of murder committed when she was 13

Hamilton County Judge Amanda Dunn on Tuesday dismissed the first-degree murder and aggravated robbery convictions of Angel Bumpass, 28, news outlets reported.

Bumpass was 24 when she was convicted in 2019 in the slaying of Franklin Bonner, 68. A medical examiner determined he suffocated after being bound to a kitchen table with duct tape covering his feet, arms, nose and mouth in 2009.

What We Know:

• Angel Bumpass, once convicted and sentenced to life in prison for a murder committed when she was 13, has been declared innocent and had her case dismissed by Hamilton County Judge Amanda Dunn.
• The conviction was based on a 2019 trial for the slaying of Franklin Bonner, where Bumpass was alleged to have suffocated him while bound with duct tape in 2009.
• The case resurfaced in 2018, leading to the discovery that Bumpass’ fingerprints matched those on the duct tape, prompting her conviction.
• Bumpass’ defense team, led by attorney William Massey, submitted polygraph test results indicating her innocence, which influenced the decision to dismiss the case.
• District Attorney Coty Wamp acknowledged the presence of a missing suspect in the crime and called for renewed efforts to identify the true perpetrator.

In a surprising turn of events, Angel Bumpass, who had spent years behind bars, has been exonerated and released, thanks in part to polygraph tests that supported her claims of innocence. The case highlights the importance of revisiting convictions and utilizing all available evidence to ensure justice is served.

Here’s to Angel moving on and beginning a fulfilling life.