Jailed Mississippi sisters freed for kidney donation
Editor's note: Tune in to see Soledad O'Brien's interview with the Scott sisters on AC360° Friday beginning at 10pm ET.
CNN Wire Staff
(CNN) - After 16 years behind bars in Mississippi, two sisters were released Friday on the condition that one donate a kidney to the other.
Gov. Haley Barbour suspended the sentences of Gladys Scott, 36, and Jamie Scott, 38, who were serving life sentences for armed robbery. Gladys agreed to donate a kidney to her sister, who according to their lawyer, is gravely ill.
"I haven't woke up. It's still a dream. It's still a dream to me," said Jamie. "It's been a long, hard road, but we made it."
The freed sisters spoke to reporters in Jackson, Mississippi at a press conference that felt more like a celebration. Cheers erupted as they entered the room and their voices and eyes swelled with emotion as the sisters spoke.
They are heading to Pensacola, Florida, where their mother lives, to remain under the supervision of the Florida Department of Corrections parole office, said Suzanne Singletary, a spokeswoman for the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
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Filed under: 360° Radar |
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My heart goes out to these sisters. I hope all works out. I am in Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease and am having many many issues. My Disease seems to progressing rather rapidly in my Left Kidney and my right is extremely damaged from a car accident. At this time we are considering removing the right kidney. I can only be thankful that someone in this situation found a second chance and may God be with them all.
outraged about this!cant believe that there is only one comment about this. smhh.How sad.It shows the state of race in America.People should be outraged that this happeneed,there are murderers who have gotten half of what these 2 ladies got. This comment page should be filled.
I hope it all works out for them – especially the kidney transplant. Even if the sister's kidney isn't compatible neither of them should go back to jail – 16 years for an $11 robbery is excessive especially compared to the sentences the others got. Why were these women treated so differently?