Tell Them You Love Me
Summary
This post contains mention of intimate ravishment .
Netflix ’s documentaryTell Them You Love Metells the story of former prof Anna Stubblefield and her complicated prison house sentence for initiating a sexual relationship with Derrick Johnson , a non - verbal person living with cerebral palsy . They met in 2009 when Derrick ’s old brother , John , learn about facilitated communication . Anna became Derrick ’s communicator , which led toa sexual relationship that Derek could not amply consent to .
While theNetflix true crime documentaryfocuses on the report between Anna and Derrick from the start , the docudrama only briefly bring up how much prison term Stubblefield actually service . The time Anna served is significantly less than the initial sentencing , only a fraction of it . Anna make a new life for herself after she was released , but it does not change the fact that the genuine sentencing draw the damage she caused against Derrick and his home . The documentary builds up to the sentencing , making it that much more satisfying when the jurist orders her to prison house .
Everything that Netflix ’s Waco : American Apocalypse missed from the infamous Waco siege and the sprightliness of David Koresh and his Branch Davidians .
Anna Stubblefield Was Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison For Aggravated Sexual Assault
In Addition To Parole For Life
The panel in the end foundAnna Stubblefield guilty of aggravated intimate assault in the first degree , and the judge doom her to 12 year in prison . Before her sentencing , John read a potent missive that addressed the damage Anna did from a personal perspective . Then , the jurist take a letter of the alphabet from Anna ’s now ex - hubby . The alphabetic character John and the judge read before the prescribed sentencing describe the tragic harm Anna caused , with the documentary not shying by from recounting Anna and Derrick ’s abusive relationship from start to finish . Focusing on the two alphabetic character before the judge ’s sentencing impacts the interview more intimately .
I do n’t think Anna interpret the profundity of pain she caused my family . She tried to lie in claim to him and rename him . She endeavor to supervene upon Derrick ’s life , a life soak up in the account and polish of his God - fear , Southern - rooted African American phratry .
– Excerpt from John Johnson ’s letter
Netflix ’s true crime infotainment What Jennifer Did unveils disgraceful details about the double homicide of Jennifer Pan ’s parents in November 2010 .
Why Anna Stubblefield Was Released From Prison After Only 2 Years
An Overturned Conviction
Shockingly , Anna Stubblefield only serve two of her 12 years in prison , escaping 10 more twelvemonth of prison because of a technicality . A three - judge panel overturned her strong belief after determine that omit facilitated communication as a defense infringed on her rights . Facilitated communication is wide unacceptable ; organizations from the American Psychological Association to the American Speech - Language - Hearing Association decry the praxis . The criminal prosecution also confute facilitated communication as a valid method acting during the trial . Since Anna had already serve 2 years , she accepted a supplication quite a little on a less thrill and was relieve .
A three - judge panel overturned her conviction after determining that omitting facilitated communication as a defense infringed on her rights .
Anna Stubblefield ’s less charge only live becausethe three - judge instrument panel trust her test was unfair . If the first justice had allowed facilitated communicating as a means of defence , the jury would still have convict Anna of exacerbate intimate assault in the first point . Her sentence of 12 years in prison would likely have remained the same . Anna ’s release from prison after only 2 geezerhood was intelligibly upsetting to intimate assault survivors . The three - judge panel might have mean Anna had an unfair trial , and that may be true , but it is also unjust that she never dish out out her initial conviction even after being convict of the heinous crime .
Now released from prison , Anna hold up in obscurity and work remotely ; it ’s unclear where she is now . However , she still firmly consider that she did not talk for Derrick and that their family relationship was whole consensual . Tell Them You Love Mebrings forward the fundamental government issue of howtechnicalities in the jurist system can direct to guilty people get aside with violent crimes .
