Valentino Dixon spent 27 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murder. He was finally exonerated and released earlier this week thanks in large part to remarkable drawings of beautiful golf courses, a Golf Digest article and Georgetown University students who took up his cause. Dixon joins TODAY to talk about his story. “I had my moments when I was bitter and angry and frustrated, but I’m not upset with anybody,” he said.
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Uncover the story of Valentino Dixon, whose wrongful conviction was concealed by a cover-up, revealing the struggle to expose the truth and seek justice.
What Happened to Valentino Dixon: A Cover-Up of Truth and Justice
Valentino Dixon spent 27 years in prison for a murder he did not commit—a case that exposed shocking failures in the justice system. Despite clear evidence pointing to his innocence and a confession from the real perpetrator, Dixon was wrongfully convicted, his life derailed by a system determined to bury the truth.
Through his artistry and relentless advocacy, Dixon’s story came to light, uncovering the layers of misconduct and injustice that kept him imprisoned. This page delves into the details of his wrongful conviction, the cover-up of crucial facts, and the extraordinary fight that ultimately set him free. Explore his journey through text and video, and discover how Dixon’s resilience turned tragedy into a powerful call for reform.
Valentino Dixon is an American artist and a former prisoner known for his remarkable story.
Here are the key points about him:
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Wrongful Conviction: Valentino Dixon was wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder in 1991 at the age of 21. He was accused of shooting a man named Torriano Jackson outside a Buffalo, New York, convenience store.
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Prison Sentence: Dixon was sentenced to 39 years to life in prison for the crime he did not commit. He maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration.
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Artistic Talent: While serving his sentence, Dixon discovered his talent for drawing. He honed his skills by creating intricate and detailed golf course landscapes, often inspired by magazine images.
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Golf Digest Feature: In 2012, his drawings caught the attention of Golf Digest magazine, which published a feature article about him and his art. The article highlighted his case and brought attention to his wrongful conviction.
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Investigation and Exoneration: The Golf Digest article attracted the interest of attorneys and investigators, leading to a re-examination of Dixon’s case. In 2018, new evidence came to light, and he was exonerated after spending 27 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
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Actual Perpetrator Confession: The key turning point in Dixon’s exoneration was the confession of another man, Lamarr Scott, who admitted to the shooting, affirming Dixon’s innocence.
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Release and Freedom: After his exoneration, Valentino Dixon was released from prison in September 2018, finally reclaiming his freedom.
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Art Career and Advocacy: Following his release, Dixon continued to pursue his passion for art. He also became an advocate for criminal justice reform, drawing attention to the flaws in the legal system that led to his wrongful conviction.
1 Valentino Dixon: Imprisoned for 27 years for a murder he didn’t commit
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2 FULL INTERVIEW: Valentino Dixon talks about being a free man
3 Valentino Dixon: the man who drew himself out of jail
27 jan 2023
He was 21 in 1991 when he was arrested and wrongfully convicted for a brutal shooting at a hangout in Buffalo, New York. Eight witnesses and a confession from the real perpetrator couldn’t save Valentino Dixon from being handed a prison sentence of nearly 40 years for a crime he didn’t commit. But a drawing of the famous 12th hole at Augusta National Golf Course eventually did
4 Prison Picasso- Sneak Peak
www.valentinodixon.com
5 How Golf Digest Helped Free An Innocent Imprisoned Artist | TODAY
6 OnCore Interviews Valentino Dixon, Artist Who Drew His Way Out of Prison with Augusta Picture…
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OnCore interviews Valentino Dixon, artist who drew his way out of prisonm with a picture of Augusta National hole #13…
OnCore Co-founder Steve Coulton interviews world famous golf artist Valentino Dixon. An artist who spent 27 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
In this podcast you will learn Valentino’s story, his dreams for change, how OnCore connected with him, how his painting of Augusta National eventually got the attention of Golf Digest writer Max Adler and how a group of undergraduate students at Georgetown University discovered a Brady violation that lead to his exoneration.
An amazing story of how golf, art and persistence can lead to change for the better.
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7 Making an Exoneree – The Story of Valentino Dixon
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This documentary tells the haunting story of the wrongful conviction of Valentino Dixon, who has spent 26 years in prison for a murder he did not commit–one that another man has confessed to five different times. The video was created and produced by a group of three Georgetown students–Julie Fragonas, Ellie Goonetillake, and Naoya Johnson–within the context of a Georgetown University course taught by Professor Marc Howard and Adjunct Professor and 2008 Exoneree Martin Tankleff.
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There might never be a commission request that tops the one this Buffalo-based artist received about three weeks ago, from former First Lady Michelle Obama.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY, SOUL OF AN UNFREED MAN
The Soul Of An Unfreed Man is the first book from the world-renowned artist Valentino Dixon.
This is a raw and thrilling tale as Valentino finds himself arrested at the age of 21 for a murder he didn’t commit and sentenced to 39 years to life. He must survive the notorious Attica Prison, a place designed to break spirits.
Eight eyewitnesses and a confession from the real killer was not enough to clear him, so seven years into his sentence, his uncle told him: “If you reclaim your talent, you can reclaim your life”.
Through his gifted hands and a set of colored pencils, Valentino draws everyday for the next 20 years. He eventually receives national attention after the Attica Warden asked him to draw his favorite golf hole.
This book is about faith, love and hope. It will give strength and inspiration to anyone facing a difficult time.
11 The Intersection Series: Webinar 1 with Valentino Dixon
12 Valentino Dixon Walks Free After 27 Years
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13 Valentino Dixon: Wrongfully Convicted – Finally Free 27 Years Later
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14 Valentino Dixon: “Golf Art Saved Me, Georgetown Set Me Free”
3 nov 2018
The Prisons and Justice Initiative was thrilled to welcome Valentino Dixon to the Georgetown campus, on Thursday, November 1 at 7:00 PM in Gaston Hall, for an extraordinary event and celebration of his exoneration and release from prison.
After 27 years of wrongful imprisonment, Valentino walked out of prison an innocent man on September 19, 2018. Just four months earlier, he had been featured by PJI’s Making an Exoneree project in which Georgetown students created documentaries making the case for the innocence of four men who were wrongfully convicted. In Valentino’s case, the students were able to find crucial new evidence that proved critical to his exoneration. Without Georgetown’s role, Valentino would likely have remained in prison for many more years.
Valentino’s tremendous talent as an artist—who has drawn hundreds of stunningly beautiful images of golf courses—had originally captured the attention of Max Adler, the editorial director of Golf Digest. This combination of golf art and Georgetown has resulted in tremendous positive media attention across the U.S. and around the world.
This special event featured Valentino Dixon in dialogue with some of the key people who were instrumental to his release, including Max Adler (Editorial Director, Golf Digest), Marty Tankleff (Exoneree and Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University), and Ellie Goonetillake, Julie Fragonas, and Naoya Johnson (the former Georgetown students who cracked open Valentino’s case). It was moderated by Marc Howard, Director of the Prisons and Justice Initiative, who co-taught the Making an Exoneree class with Tankleff.
Segments in this video:
0:00 – 4:30: Marc Howard’s welcome and introduction
4:30 – 13:10: Making an Exoneree sizzle reel (produced by Strong Island Films)
13:10 – 25:00: Marc Howard in conversation with Valentino Dixon
25:00 – 34:20 : Marc Howard in conversation with Max Adler and Valentino Dixon
34:20 – 48:12: Marc Howard in conversation with Marty Tankleff and Valentino Dixon
48:12 – 1:09:20: Marc Howard in conversation with former Georgetown students Ellie Goonetillake, Julie Fragonas, and Naoya Johnson
1:09:20 – 1:16:40: Phone calls from prison from Tim Wright and Kenneth Bond, in conversation with Valentino Dixon
1:16:40 – 2:01:32: Q&A with the audience and all panelists
2:01:32 – 2:07:00: Phone call from prison from John Moss III, in conversation with Valentino Dixon
2:07:00 – 2:08:00: Presentation of Georgetown gear to Valentino Dixon, and closing of the event
15 Tiger Woods and Valentino Dixon: Two comeback stories collide at Augusta National
16 Wrongly Convicted for Murder But Golf Saved My Life
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5 apr 2023
Valentino Dixon served 27 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murder. Then he started drawing golf holes. Filmed at the 2023 Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
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17 Valentino Dixon Fighting For Freedom
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18 DA: “I Have A Man’s Life In My Hands”
19 Artist in Attica: Man wrongfully convicted of murder draws global interest for his artwork
20 Dixon Adjusting To Life After Prison
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21 Valentino Dixon: “The 12th Hole saved my life”
20 mrt 2022
Valentino Dixon was convicted of murder in 1991 in Buffalo, New York and was sentenced to 39 years to life in prison. It took him him nearly 20 years behind bars before he drew attention to his situation. After 27 years of imprisonment, he was exonerated in 2018, and he never would have thought that golf would be what set him free.
22 Innocent Man Sent to Prison, Freed By His Art! | Steve Wilkos
23 Valentino Dixon : Incredible Story!!! Man still fighting for justice after 22 years…
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Valentino Dixon’s world was turned upside down when he was wrongly accused and then convicted of a double homicide after another man confessed to the crime. He was exonerated after spending 27 years behind bars.
Marty Tankleff was wrongly convicted of murdering his wealthy parents and freed on appeal after serving 17 years of a 50-year-to-life sentence. Today he is an attorney working as Special Counsel at Barket, Epstein, Kearon, Aldea & LoTurco.
