Molly Peters

Photographer

Barry Jones - The Intercept

Clients: Bloomberg Businessweek, The Intercept, The Wall Street Journal, High Country News, HuffPost

School: Bard College Hartford Art School

Barry Jones sits in a conferenc...4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones sits in a conference room at his lawyers’ offices in Tucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023, shortly after he was released following 29 years on Death Row. Jones was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Cary Sandman, lead attorney for...4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Cary Sandman, lead attorney for Barry Jones, appears at the Pima County Superior Courthouse in Tucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023, where the Honorable Kyle Bryson accepted a plea deal, releasing Jones from Death Row and re-sentencing him to time served. Jones was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones and his legal team ... year old Rachel Gray, in 1994.

Barry Jones and his legal team listen to a victim impact statement read on behalf of Rebecca Lux in the Pima County Superior Courthouse in Tucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023, where the Honorable Kyle Bryson accepted a plea deal, releasing Jones from Death Row and re-sentencing him to time served. Jones was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering Lux’s sister, 4 year old Rachel Gray, in 1994.

Barry Jones signs paperwork and...cson, Arizona on June 15, 2023.

Barry Jones signs paperwork and is fingerprinted before leaving the Pima County Superior Court. The Honorable Kyle Bryson accepted a plea deal for Jones, who was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994, releasing Jones from Death Row and re-sentencing him to time served, in a hearing in Tucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023.

Cary Sandman, lead attorney for...23 after 29 years on Death Row.

Cary Sandman, lead attorney for Barry Jones, waits in his office in Tucson, Arizona for Jones to arrive following his release on June 15, 2023 after 29 years on Death Row.

Barry Jones arrives at his lawy...4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones arrives at his lawyers’ offices in Tucson, Arizona and embraces Andrew Sowards, a retired investigator and one of Jones' staunchest supporters, on June 15, 2023, shortly after he was released following 29 years on Death Row. Jones was wrongfully convicted of murdering 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones visits with family ...4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones visits with family and supporters in a conference room at his lawyers’ offices in Tucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023, shortly after he was released following 29 years on Death Row. Jones was wrongfully convicted of murdering 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones' paralegal,...ar on his first day of freedom.

Barry Jones' paralegal, Jennifer Schneider, holds up a shirt she bought for Barry to wear on his first day of freedom.

Barry Jones greets his family f...4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones greets his family for the first time at his lawyers’ offices in Tucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023, shortly after he was released following 29 years on Death Row. Jones was wrongfully convicted of murdering 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones stands next to his ...4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones stands next to his release documents and bag of personal effects shortly after arriving at his lawyers’ offices in Tucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023, after he was released following 29 years on Death Row. Jones was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones greets his daughter...4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones greets his daughter, Brandie Jones, for the first time at his lawyers’ offices in Tucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023, shortly after he was released following 29 years on Death Row. Jones was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones poses with his chil...4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones poses with his children for a group photo at his lawyers’ offices in Tucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023, shortly after he was released following 29 years on Death Row. Jones was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones poses for a photo w...4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones poses for a photo with members his legal team in a conference room at his lawyers’ offices in Tucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023, shortly after he was released following 29 years on Death Row. Jones was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones' granddaugh...4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones' granddaughter, Alaina Jones, embraces her mother, Leigha Curley, shortly after meeting her grandfather for the first time after Barry Jones was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones poses with his gran...4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones poses with his grandchildren in a conference room at his lawyers’ offices in Tucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023, shortly after he was released following 29 years on Death Row. Jones was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Barry Jones, left, and his lead...ollowing 29 years on Death Row.

Barry Jones, left, and his lead attorney, Cary Sandman pose for a portrait outside the legal offices in Tucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023, shortly after he was released following 29 years on Death Row.

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Thumbnail of Barry Jones sits in a conference_ 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Thumbnail of Cary Sandman, lead attorney for _ 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones and his legal team l_4 year old Rachel Gray, in 1994.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones signs paperwork and _ucson, Arizona on June 15, 2023.

Thumbnail of Cary Sandman, lead attorney for _023 after 29 years on Death Row.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones arrives at his lawye_ 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones visits with family a_ 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones' paralegal, _ear on his first day of freedom.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones greets his family fo_ 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones stands next to his r_ 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones greets his daughter,_ 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones poses with his child_ 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones poses for a photo wi_ 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones' granddaught_ 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones poses with his grand_ 4 year old Rachel Gray in 1994.

Thumbnail of Barry Jones, left, and his lead _following 29 years on Death Row.

Public Project

Barry Jones - The Intercept

Copyright Molly Peters 2025

Date of Work Jun 2023 - Jun 2023

Updated Jun 2023

Location Tucson, AZ

Topics Activism, Arrests and Prosecutions, Breaking News, Crime, Documentary, Family, Human Rights, Incarceration, Journalism, Photography, Photojournalism, Prison, Social Justice

I was honored to work with Liliana Segura this week on a story that she'd been reporting on since 2017 for The Intercept - Barry Jones' release from Death Row, after serving 29 years for a murder he didn't commit. His conviction was overturned in 2018 based on evidence that wasn't presented at his first trial, which proved he was not responsible for the death of 4 year old Rachel Gray in the early 1990s, but the Supreme Court overturned that decision last year, against their own precedent, based on a technicality.

As Liliana details in the story here, the day didn't quite go according to plan, with corrections officers dropping Jones off unceremoniously at a Greyhound station in downtown Tucson with no phone, no money, and no idea where to go, after previously telling his family that he would be released from the jail and they could meet him there. But after a frantic search, he was found near his lawyers' office, where he was finally reunited with his family.

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