Jose “Tony” Medina

Jose “Tony” Medina is currently serving 50 years to life for two counts of Murder in the and one count of Arson and has been incarcerated since 1980. Tony, now 66 years old, has served 40 years of his sentence. Tony has dedicated the last 40 years of his life to mentorship, art, music, and religion.

Having never received a formal education in his youth, Tony never learned to read or write. While incarcerated he’s taught himself how to read and write in both Spanish and English. He also dedicates time every day to making art for his loved ones and music. Tony loves to craft purses, baby shoes, flowers, cups, and picture frames using paper and vinyl as well as handkerchiefs, pillows, and handmade drawings. His artwork has become of one of his favorite and most precious daily activities and is notably deeply touching for the people that receive them. Some of Tony’s art is featured on Open Call for Clemency, which can be found here.

Tony is a lung cancer survivor, and is currently living with one lung. For the last year, his clemency team has submitted numerous letters, alongside the clemency application sent in November 2019, updating the clemency board on Tony’s regular medical complications and vulnerabilities, especially now as he is in the highest risk bracket if infected with COVID-19.

Part of Tony’s clemency application is a video from his daughter, Elizabeth Medina, who was reunited with her father in 2019, after four decades apart. Elizabeth’s plea for her father’s release can be found here.