In honor of International Dog Day on Monday, August 26th we would like to highlight the story of MTIP freed client Cody Marble and how his canine companion has helped him to navigate rebuilding his life after wrongful conviction. Read below to learn more about how you can help support Cody!
MTIP freed client Cody Marble was arrested for an alleged rape at a juvenile detention center and was wrongfully convicted in 2002.
Incentivized witnesses, false testimony, and recanted accusations were all present in the seemingly never-ending nightmare that Cody experienced during the formative years of his life.
Since his exoneration in 2017, Cody has endured many challenges in his journey to rebuilding his life. But, a constant that has kept him going during these difficult times is his dog Athena, who has helped him to feel a new sense of “meaning” in his life.
Cody rescued Athena in 2019, in hopes to give her a more stable and permanent home from the life she previously had.
“It felt right for her to be with someone she knew would love and care for her,” said Cody. “She lived in the city before she was with me and wasn’t able to roam and be free, so I like to take her out to run around in the mountains and go fishing with me.”
Cody said that Athena is his first real pet, but he has always had a love for dogs.
“I always wanted a dog, but I never expected to get her,” said Cody. “I just love how sweet and kind she is.”
In 2022 MTIP helped Cody to register Athena as his emotional support animal.
“She can tell when I’m not doing good,” said Cody. “When I’m worried or upset she’ll come over and try to cheer me up…she just makes me feel better.”
After years of wrongful incarceration and poor medical care, Cody continues to face lasting health effects which causes him to struggle to work manual labor jobs, and the years spent without access to continuing education and from the general workforce greatly limit his other opportunities for gainful employment.
“My back is so messed up now, I can’t do a lot of the things I used to love doing,” said Cody.
In addition, Cody also regularly is faced with the social stigma of his wrongful conviction upon trying to navigate his new life.
“Even though I’m exonerated, people still have this negative perception of me in the back of their minds,” said Cody. “I don’t know if you ever truly get away from it.”
Cody said that Athena’s companionship has helped him to take each day at a time while he moves forward with his healing journey.
“When I take her out to places and she’s just running around free, it really makes me happy,” said Cody. “I’ve been cooped up so much in my life and she has too, so the fact that I can be out here with her and give her a good life means a lot to me.”
Cody described their bond as “inseparable” and reflected on the way her support has helped him to make healthy choices and relieve his stress and anxiety.
“I don’t know what it feels like to have kids, but she’s like my kid,” said Cody. “I feel good about my job taking care of her and giving her a good life, it’s like I have a real purpose now.”
In May, Cody’s attempt to receive fair compensation for the 14 years he spent wrongfully imprisoned by the state and county was denied in a district court proceeding, effectively barring Cody from any form of remedy for the grave injustices leveled against him.
Like many others rebuilding their lives after wrongful conviction, Cody’s path forward has been anything but easy. Today, Cody continues to shoulder lasting health effects from years of incarceration and poor medical care, which causes him to struggle to secure consistent work to make ends meet.
MTIP has set up a personal GoFundMe fundraiser on Cody’s behalf, to help mitigate some of the financial burdens he is facing, with a goal to raise $750,000. Your gift will directly benefit Cody, to help him maintain housing, establish medical care, and secure basic life necessities.
Together, we can make a significant difference in Cody’s life, by offering him the support and resources he needs to move forward in rebuilding his life after his wrongful conviction.
Thank you for your ongoing support and generosity!