Ezra Bozeman, a 68-year-old inmate serving a life sentence in Pennsylvania for a 1975 robbery and murder, was granted medical release by a judge. Bozeman is currently on a ventilator in an intensive care unit due to sepsis and complications from quadriplegia. The release petition was supported by Gov. Josh Shapiro and the superintendent of the state prison where Bozeman has been incarcerated. The Allegheny County District Attorney had opposed the petition, but Judge Susan Evashavik DiLucente ultimately granted it during a court hearing, despite the fact that Bozeman had been placed on life support just hours before.
Bozeman’s lawyers cited Pennsylvania’s 15-year-old compassionate release law, which allows a seriously ill inmate expected to die within a year to be transferred to a private medical facility. They are hoping that Bozeman’s condition will stabilize so that he can be moved to a long-term care facility. Bozeman has been a quadriplegic since a surgery in February left him paralyzed from the chest down. His legal team, which includes the Abolitionist Law Center and Amistad Law Project, has been advocating for his release based on his deteriorating health.
Bozeman was convicted of second-degree murder in 1975 for killing Morris Weitz during a robbery at a dry cleaner in Pittsburgh. Despite maintaining his innocence and claiming that he was not involved in the robbery and was not present at the scene of the crime, Bozeman was sentenced to life in prison. His legal team has argued that a key witness against him recanted his testimony, casting doubt on Bozeman’s conviction. As Bozeman battles sepsis and other complications in the hospital, his lawyers are working to secure his transfer to a more appropriate care facility.
Although Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala initially opposed Bozeman’s petition for medical release, he stated that his office had yet to see a court order and therefore could not comment on whether they would appeal the decision. Bozeman’s release came after a harrowing journey that saw him rushed to the hospital on Sunday night. His lawyers have praised Bozeman for his resilience and dignity in the face of poor medical care as a quadriplegic, citing him as an example of humanity. With the support of the governor, prison officials, and the judicial system, Bozeman’s legal team is working towards giving him the chance to receive the appropriate medical care he needs in his current condition.
It remains to be seen how Bozeman’s health will progress in the coming days and whether he will eventually be transferred to a long-term care facility. The compassionate release law in Pennsylvania provides a framework for seriously ill inmates to receive the necessary medical treatment outside of prison if they are expected to pass away within a year. Bozeman’s case highlights the complexities of navigating the legal and medical systems for inmates in dire need of specialized care. As he fights for his health and his rights, the outcome of his petition for medical release will have far-reaching implications for how the justice system handles cases of terminally ill inmates.
