The Mississippi Five

Meet the Mississippi Five —Lisa Crevitt, Anita Krecic, Loretta Pierre, Evelyn Smith, and Linda Ross—women who were sentenced to life with the possibility of parole in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They are now between the ages of 59 and 82 years old. Despite their achievements, personal growth, the loss of loved ones outside, and even recantations of key witnesses, they continue to be denied parole irrespective of their actions. The Mississippi Five have collectively been imprisoned for over 175 years and denied parole 47 times. It is time to FREE THE FIVE!

Loretta Pierre

My name is Loretta Pierre. In 1985, when I was 20 years old and pregnant with my only child, I was charged with homicide. After six trials, I was convicted and sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after serving ten years. My first parole date was in December 1997. I have currently been denied parole fourteen times, more than any other woman in the history of the State of Mississippi. The son I was pregnant with in 1985 is now thirty-eight years old, with three children of his own—grandchildren that I’ve never seen in person. I am a grandparent, mother, sister, aunt, and friend. I’m also a published writer, a college student, organizer, educator, prison abolitionist, and a politicized prisoner. I am still very close to my family, but unfortunately, my mother died on September 19, 2017, while still awaiting my release. I have currently served over thirty-six years. My next scheduled parole hearing is in December 2025. My charge will be 40 years old then, so I am hoping to be released soon. I enjoy swimming, deep sea fishing, biking, concerts, reading, creating art, picnics, beautiful clothes, dancing, and ice cream. My favorite foods are crawfish and shrimp. My favorite artist is Joe Davis.

Anita Krecic

My name is Anita Krecic. I am a native Ohioan and have been in prison for 37 years. While using drugs, I foolishly became involved with a man who gunned down a state trooper. I was given a life sentence with parole consideration for having been an accomplice. I was broken, desperate, and spiritually dead. But God delivered me, forgave me, and saved me. I am still holding on to my faith that the victim’s family will forgive me for all of the pain and enormous loss they have suffered because of the careless actions of my co-defendant and me. My imprisoned life has reflected one who is remorseful, repentant, and productive. I became a quilter, a computer technician, a paralegal, a Christian mentor, and a librarian. I am currently in a four-year seminary program through New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminar. Despite my strong network of family and friends, and regardless of the redemption I have shown and the transformation I have made, Mississippi’s parole board has mercilessly denied my parole ten times. My last set-off of eight years was my longest. My hopes are that Mississippi’s leaders will be able to show mercy. For even the apostle Paul, who was also a murderer, became one of the greatest saints for God.

Linda Ross

My name is Linda Ross. I am one of the Mississippi Five, who were sentenced for crimes back in the 1980s and have yet to be released. I was 27 years old then and misdiagnosed as being mentally retarded and psychotic. I have overcome many challenges since then by choosing not to accept that evaluation as final. I am now 62 years old and have been refused treatment for Hepatitis C since 2003. I am in need of a double hip replacement as well as shoulder and knee surgery. I have used my prison time wisely and achieved my GED. Currently, I am enrolled at Valley State University and have already accumulated enough credit hours for an Associate’s degree. If granted parole, I would like to live out my senior years with my elderly mother. I believe I have not only transformed my mind but have risen above resentments by using this opportunity to choose forgiveness. 

Lisa Crevitt

My name is Lisa Crevitt and I am incarcerated in the state of Mississippi, where I have been for the past 39 years. I have no disciplinary reports in my file, which seems to serve no purpose—as I have been denied parole 9 times for a total of 34 set-off years. It’s very disheartening to sit in prison your whole adult life, reform yourself, do the right thing—getting no reprimands or negative reports—and yet continuously receive set-offs from the parole board. I was born October 4, 1964 in Vicksburg, MS into a wonderful family. I have a mom, dad, step-mom, step-dad, a brother, two sisters, a daughter, two grandsons, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. I am a cat handler in the animal program with my forever cat, Cosmo. When I am afforded the opportunity to go home, he will go with me. I also help in fostering 25 other cats who are waiting for their forever homes. I am computer literate, and licensed to operate a forklift. Finding employment will not be difficult for me as I am still young enough to work hard. My next parole hearing is scheduled for February 2028.

Evelyn Smith

My name is Evelyn Smith and 32 years ago I committed a crime that forever changed many lives. It is a hurt and loss that I can never undo. When sentenced to life with parole, I had a tiny glimmer of hope that the judge, and maybe others, believed one day I might be worthy of a second chance. I started on a journey to become a person worthy of one. I have had many jobs, became a leader in my community who mentored younger women, and became a trusted mediator. In proving I was worthy of a second chance, I became a better person. With 30 years served, an almost spotless record, and positive contributions to my community, I believed the parole board would see a worthy person. I thought I had a real chance. When the board set off an 80-year-old for five years in 2022, they sent an unmistakable message: they wanted me to die in prison. I’ve taken accountability for my actions, sought to make reparations by living a life devoted to giving to others. Statistically and realistically, I pose no threat to society. I often ponder what is being accomplished by my continued incarceration.

Features

Writings By the MS5

Stand Strong, Stand Long by Loretta Pierre

“Jails, prisons, regional facilities,

and immigration detention centers

have become the ultimate

examples of human trafficking

and bondage. There are very few

wealthy people in these types of

institutions.”

The Parole Debacle in Mississippi by Anita Krecic

“The parole denial is taken

as a slap in the face,

like punishment for

doing right.”

News & Press

Prisons Grow in Mississippi as State Officials Cut Parole by Victoria law

“I don’t ever want to give up hope,”

Pierre told Bolts.

“But sometimes hope

can be your worst enemy.” 

- Loretta Pierre, Member of MS5

All Our Trials/Mississippi Five Reading Groups

In coordination with the release of the 2024 Haymarket Books edition of Emily Thuma’s All Our Trials: Prisons, Policing, and the Feminist Fight to End Violence, the Committee to Free the Mississippi Five has collaborated with Emily to create a study guide to support reading groups in exploring the connections between this vital history of anticarceral feminist organizing in the 1970s and 1980s and current support and solidarity efforts for criminalized survivors and imprisoned women such as the Five. 

We encourage friends, comrades, collectives, students, and organizations to form in-person or virtual study groups and join us in 2025 as we study histories of grassroots feminist struggles against imprisonment and apply their lessons today.

Please fill out this form if you are interested in hosting or joining a group, or reading along independently. 

From early February–May 2025, groups will be provided the following:

1. A five-part reading group guide (contains discussion questions and additional recommended reading materials from the Campaign to Free the Mississippi Five)

2. Kickoff virtual event co-hosted by Emily Thuma and Romarilyn Ralston, February 2 at 6pm EST 

3. Closing virtual event hosted by Dean Spade, June 1 at 6pm EST  

4. Discount code from Haymarket Books (limited book donations to in-person groups will also be available)

5. An arrangement of hand crafted flowers by Mississippi Five fellow, Corey Devon Arthur. Arthur is imprisoned in New York and co-founder of the Save The Flower Registry. He has designed a unique line of flowers for the Mississippi Five. Arthur also envisions groups fundraising for the campaign and offering gratitude to the donors. He will offer other artwork to support the Five. Arthur encourages groups to find other creative ways to use the flowers and artwork for collaborative community building and to support the campaign. 

We hope this structure will offer an opportunity to form and deepen organizing relationships, study and learn together, and build upon these histories of feminist anti-prison struggles.