Wrongfully imprisoned for 35 years, Christian mother shares how God redeemed injustice

April 1, 2025

A Missouri woman who was wrongfully imprisoned for 35 years is sharing her experience of spiritual reckoning, resilience and grace.

According to the Christian Post, Judy Henderson was sentenced to life in prison without parole for capital murder after being manipulated by her abusive boyfriend into robbing a jeweler in Springfield, Missouri.

The robbery turned deadly when Henderson’s boyfriend killed the jeweler for refusing to hand over a ring and other valuables.

Both Henderson and the boyfriend were charged with murder but only Henderson was found guilty, despite the two of them having the same lawyer.

That conflict of interest was later deemed unconstitutional and Henderson was granted clemency by Gov. Eric Greitens in 2017.

In her book, When the Light Finds Us, Henderson describes her journey in the aftermath of a devastating miscarriage of justice and how she found God following a 3-day Christian retreat that was offered to a small group of prisoners.

Henderson told the Christian Post, “God speaks of love in the Bible. He loved us so much that He died for us. Whenever I saw the enormity of how much love was in this three-day retreat, and how these volunteers […] didn’t have to give up their time to come in there and speak with us […] They chose to do this because they had the love of God in them, and that gave me hope.”

The experience was transformative for Henderson and she became a a certified paralegal and mentor for others incarcerated women.

Today, she works with women recently released from prison, helping them rebuild their lives and start again.

Henderson counsels others to seek the freedom they will find in Christ, urging, “Don’t give up hope. Sometimes, we just have to listen for His voice. You can’t keep going in the same direction if you keep running into roadblocks. That is your sign. Go in a different direction. Let Him show you.”

Photo: top, Credit: Unsplash/Matthew Ansley