Bringing Ben Home: A Story of Injustice and Redemption

In 1988, Ben Spencer was sentenced to life in prison for a murder he did not commit. He spent 34 years wrongfully imprisoned. Now, Ben has teamed up with award-winning journalist Barbara Bradley Hagerty to share his story – and larger story about the flaws in the legal system that allow mistakes to occur, and how some states are trying to fix them.

Conversation will be moderated by Scott Peyton, director of government affairs at Prison Fellowship.

In 1987, Benjamine Spencer was wrongfully arrested for the robbery and murder of a prominent Dallas businessman. Newlywed and with his first child on the way, Ben was sentenced to life in prison based on the testimony of three incentivized witnesses and a jailhouse informant. No physical evidence tied him to the crime. He maintained his innocence the whole time. Based on evidence
found by Centurion Ministries, which reinvestigates dubious convictions, a Dallas judge ruled Ben was innocent. But the Texas high court disagreed, leaving Ben to spend his life in prison. Another decade would pass, and more exculpatory evidence unearthed, before Ben was finally released in 2021. He was fully exonerated in August 2024. Ben’s experience revealed just how easy it is to convict an innocent person, and how difficult it is to undo the mistake.

During Ben’s 34 years of incarceration, he was sustained by his faith and the unwavering support of his family. Since his release, Ben has returned to work and focused on reconnecting with his family.  Ben takes every opportunity to share his story with the hope of inspiring others.

Barbara Bradley Hagerty is an award-winning journalist at The Atlantic and formerly with National Public Radio. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Fingerprints of God and Life Reimagined.

She encountered Ben’s case in 2017 while writing a piece for The Atlantic, spending weeks in Dallas, knocking on doors, and discovering new evidence of Ben’s innocence. Her latest book, Bringing Ben Home: A Murder, a Conviction, and the Fight to Redeem American Justice chronicles Ben’s journey through the American justice system. Amazon and The Christian Science Monitor named it one of the best books of 2024.

Scott Peyton serves as director of government affairs at Prison Fellowship, bringing over a decade of experience in Louisiana’s criminal justice system, specializing in juvenile and adult probation and parole. His career has spanned roles focused on child welfare, law enforcement, and correctional support.

Prior to joining Prison Fellowship, Peyton served as a regional director of a national criminal justice initiative, overseeing state advocacy efforts and advancing criminal justice policy. He has witnessed firsthand the importance of rehabilitation and reentry programs, as well as the need for meaningful change within the criminal justice system.

Peyton holds a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from Louisiana State University at Shreveport and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He is also a veteran, having served in the Louisiana National Guard during Operation Desert Storm. Peyton resides in Louisiana with his wife of 34 years. They have six children and three grandchildren. He is a member of Trinity Anglican Church in Lafayette, Louisiana.