WASHINGTON – Charles and Chris Turner, two brothers who spent decades in prison for a 1984 murder they insist they did not commit, are seeking a presidential pardon to clear their names and reclaim their future.

Convicted as teenagers of the brutal slaying of Catherine Fuller in Northeast Washington, DC near the intersection of 8th and H Streets, the brothers have lived in the shadow of the crime for more than 40 years.

Now free, they fight for liberation through a pardon that would overturn their convictions and restore their rights.

“With the pardon, we get a chance to fix all of that and end this case once and for all,” Chris Turner said.

Despite having decades of the Turner brothers’ lives stolen from them, both have a positive outlook on the future and the impact they can have moving forward.

“People get more upset that we’re not bitter,” Chris Turner said. “We believe that if you remain bitter, remain upset about what happened — even though it was an atrocity and it was injustice — that you stay locked in mentally.”

This case, explored in the podcast “The Alley: DC’s 8th and H Case”have highlighted allegations of suppressed evidence, coerced testimony and investigative errors.

Seventeen people were arrested in connection with Fuller’s murder, eight of whom were eventually convicted. Of the six still alive, all retain their innocence after serving more than 200 years behind bars.

Shannon Lynch, lead podcast producer and studio manager at New America, emphasized the brothers’ resilience. She has spent more than 3.5 years getting to know each of them individually to tell their story.

“Obviously, I’ll never even come close to understanding what it feels like to have your name dragged through the mud the way theirs has been, but what’s more important to look at is what they’ve done since.” she said.

The Turners have immersed themselves in society and remain optimistic about their future, despite the limitations imposed by their criminal records.

“We’ve actually said we could join the police force if we didn’t have this on our record… I used to want to be in the Navy. I can’t serve my country because I have a record,” says Charles Turner, reflecting over the opportunities he missed.

Their fight for a pardon, supported by the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, represents a crucial step in restoring their reputations and erasing their records of all wrongdoing. Executive Director, Shawn Armbrust, has been personally devoted to the case for 20 years.

“We decided we had to because at the end of the day we can’t stop them,” Armbrust said.

Charles Turner expressed hope that a pardon would provide validation not only to himself and the other 5 convicted men, but also to his family, friends, as well as others who have supported him along the way.

“It would also validate — help validate — what they know, not what they think, but what they know. That’s a big difference there.”

Historically, most presidential pardons are granted between Election Day and Inauguration Day, but no timeline has been given for the convicted men’s applications.

For more information about the case and how to get involved, click here:

In addition, you can listen to “The Alley: DC’s 8th and H Case” wherever you upload your podcast Spotify or Apple Podcasts.