Daughter Fights for Justice as Father Faces First Parole Hearing After 27 Years

Bryan K. Hooper Sr. was convicted in 1999 for the 1998 murder of Ann Prazniak in Minneapolis. The case, which has drawn scrutiny over the years for its reliance on coerced testimonies and lack of physical evidence, has become a focal point in the conversation surrounding wrongful convictions.

Bri’ana Hooper, the daughter of a man charged with murder and serving a life sentence, shared her family's ongoing struggle for justice as her father prepares for his first parole hearing after nearly three decades of incarceration.

“My father was wrongly convicted of the murder of an elderly woman. They relied pretty much solely on coerced testimonies and testimonies from the state key witness to convict him, ” said Bri'ana. “I'm here to share what actually happened to him, how he was railroaded into being accused of this murder and how they're not doing anything to support him or bring him home."

In his own words at justiceforbryanhoopersr.com, Byan shared:

April 1998, at the age of 27, I was accused and arrested by Minneapolis Police Department for the murder of a 77-year-old woman. I was one of the many people invited into the victims apartment by the state's key witness, under the false pretense that she was watching the victims apartment for her while she was away in treatment. I did not know that the victim was deceased in her apartment. This being a high profile case with lots of media coverage, I was painted as a violent, gangbanging, addict. Due to a rush in judgment and based on false jailhouse informant statements, assumed and made up claims that I confessed to the crime, I was charged with murder. Over two and a half decades I've been trying to bring this wrongful conviction to light and regain my rightful freedom. A second is too long to be incarcerated for a crime you did not commit.

Bri’ana emphasized the absence of any physical evidence linking her father to the crime, underscoring the flaws in the prosecution's case. “There was no evidence that showed he had anything to do with the crime, yet they still convicted him. That’s the short version of a the story,” she said.

The Hooper family has fought tirelessly for her father’s freedom since the beginning, but recent developments have intensified Bri’ana’s efforts. The last appeal left them with little recourse, instructing them to pursue the matter through the parole process instead.

“They told us to take it up at parole, which is tomorrow,” she stated, expressing her hope that the board would recognize her father's innocence.

Bryan Hooper Sr. (center) with Bri'ana (right) and his mother (left)

“Everybody goes through life making mistakes, and he wasn't perfect and he'll never say that,” said Bri'ana. “But he is somebody who deserves his freedom and he deserves to spend time with his children and his mother before she leaves and and his grandchild that is here and to build those memories that we never had an opportunity to build.”

Bri’ana's determination is rooted in a desire for justice and the restoration of her family. “They stole him from his family, and it is a crime,” she said. “We need to stand together to stop things like this from happening. Justice needs to be served, and that means the return of an innocent man.”

As her father's parole hearing approaches, Bri’ana is rallying support from the community. “I’m hoping to get people out there at noon to breathe together and talk together. We want to show our support,” she said, outlining the plan for the day.

Flyer from Bri'ana Hooper's Facebook.

Bri'ana's brother, Bryan Hooper Jr., will be giving a statement on behalf of their father. If allowed, Bri’ana is prepared to present evidence that she believes will support her father's case, including affidavits of recantation from four individuals who she claims lied on the stand during the original trial. “I have all of those recantations, and I will be bringing those to the hearing,” she noted.

The family currently lacks legal representation and is seeking support as they navigate this critical juncture in their fight for justice. As the community awaits the outcome of the parole hearing, Bri’ana's story serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding wrongful convictions and the ongoing battle for justice in the face of systemic challenges.

“This could happen to any one of us,” she warned. “It’s easy to turn a blind eye when it’s not you or your people, but it’s not easy for me.”