He Spent Twenty Years in Prison For Murder. But is The Victim Even Dead?
In 2003, Manuel Valdovinos was sentenced in Mexico to 41 years in prison for homicide. Then, years later, it turned out the homicide victim might actually be alive and living in the U.S. It was a unique tale, to say the least. In 2021, Manuel was released early from prison, although he was never cleared of the crime. The Economist’s 1843 magazine commissioned me to photograph Manuel during his first hours and days of freedom, as he was reunited with his wife, celebrated his father’s birthday, and tried on suits for public events. To this day, Valdovinos claims that he did not commit the murder he was convicted of and that his case demonstrates the deep corruption that has co-opted the Mexican judicial system.