NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The family of Johnny Allen, the man Cyntoia Brown was convicted of shooting and killing, says he's often an after-thought in the case.
They released the following statement leading up to her release:
“We are at a loss for words. We feel like the judicial system has failed again for victims everywhere. This world is all about power and money and not what is important such as honesty and fairness for those that work hard and try to help others. We are very saddened about this event. Our hearts are broken because we feel like Johnny never got to defend himself. We never got to be a voice for him. Please keep us in your prayers.”
On the day of Brown's release, the family's spokesperson, Anna Whaley, sat down with NewsChannel 5. She says she feels in her heart Johnny was trying to help Brown, who told him she was homeless and hungry.
Brown testified she was paid by Allen to have sex with him, but that they never engaged in intercourse. Whaley hopes Brown will finally clear Allen's name.
"I want them to know Johnny was a good man. He was trying to help Cyntoia, and the most difficult part of all of this, is we feel Johnny was used as a scapegoat. And he was not the bad guy," Whaley said.
Whaley hopes that when Brown's book is released there will be an apology to Johnny Allen included.
