Nathaniel Brown was convicted of first-degree murder on March 22, 2016, in Massachusetts. But he has spent over a decade in prison for a crime he did not commit. Multiple critical elements in this case were egregiously overlooked during the initial investigation, indicative of a rush to judgment to convict Nathaniel. The absence of evidence placing him at the scene of the crime, coupled with the blatant neglect to investigate other potential suspects, even two seen in a loud, verbal altercation with the victim within 4 minutes of the assault, raises very serious doubts about the validity of his conviction.
One of the key concerns of his trial is the ineffective assistance of counsel. Nathaniel’s legal representation was marred by consistent errors and a glaring conflict of interest, as noted by legal experts. These deficiencies in representation form the basis for the Norfolk Superior Court Judge to grant him a new trial last June; but the DA has since opposed this decision. Doesn’t a just legal system demand that every citizen, regardless of the charges against him or her, receives competent, unbiased legal representation, and a fair trial?
Furthermore, the case against Nathaniel is rife with very questionable, if not biased, evidence handling and investigative neglect. Notably, no warrants were issued to search the cellphones or conduct DNA testing on the individuals actually identified at the crime scene, allowing crucial leads to go unexplored. Forensic analysis confirms that the scarce DNA evidence purportedly linking Nathaniel to the crime could have been deposited any day prior to the stabbing. Additionally, a mixed DNA profile of unknown individuals was found on the victim’s clothing in several places, while NONE of Nathaniel’s was on the victim’s clothes.
The egregiousness of the attack suggests that there was possibly more than one assailant. Yet disturbingly, no other individuals were examined for DNA evidence, even the two individuals seen by neighbors in a heated argument with the victim in front of their house! All of this, calls for a thorough re-examination of the evidence presented at trial and an explanation from the DA’s office as to why others, especially the aforementioned two, were not tested to identify if they were the “unknown individuals” in the mixed DNA profile the DA’s office found.
Nathaniel, a 40-year-old lifelong resident of Boston, has endured almost 11 years of incarceration since September 24, 2013. During this time, he has maintained an unwavering commitment to the legal process, attending every court date without fail. Also, he is a model father, who calls his 12-year-old daughter daily, makes sure they have regular visits; and through his online business, he continues to support her financially while awaiting justice.
Nathaniel's willingness to cooperate fully with law enforcement, his surrender of personal property, and his consistent affirmation of innocence should not be ignored. Despite warnings from his trial attorney, he has extended his cooperation from the outset, demonstrating a commitment to transparency that has been consistently overlooked.
In light of the circumstances surrounding the murder of Jordan Baskin on April 14, 2013: the compelling evidence of inadequate representation; the investigative negligence including not questioning the victim's lifestyle and associations, providing alternative avenues of inquiry, even when eyewitnesses attested to seeing the heated argument and identified specific individuals engaged in it within 4 minutes of the stabbing; and the glaring absence of any conclusive evidence tying Nathaniel to the crime; we respectfully urge the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to EXONERATE Nathaniel Brown and DROP the egregious charges against him.
Nathaniel’s story embodies the urgency for reform in our justice system. Stand with us. Please
– demand justice for Nathaniel Brown. #FreeNathanielBrown.