In the two decades since JJ's arrest, he's written hundreds of letters from his cell.

Most were to his mom, Maria.

He types a lot.

But I told him, I like them handwritten better.

She's sitting at her kitchen table, holding one of them.

Dearest my beloved heart, I wish you knew how sorry I am for all we've been through.

Life has been so unfair to us. It haunts my every thought.

I can't even escape it in my dreams.

Thank God we have each other.

The greatest blessing I ever received

was a mother who loved so passionately.

You said, Jay, they can lock up your body but not your soul.

Your mind is free.

They can take everything else away from you. but as long as you control your mind,

you can create your own destiny.

Mommy, I absorbed those words so deep in my core they pumped through the blood in my veins.

My life may have been stolen, but it will not be wasted.

When I die, I don't want to be remembered as a convicted felon who gave up.

I want to be remembered as an innocent man with conviction who refused to lose.

Unconditionally yours, JJ.

You know, it's been a long, long hard road.

But when I look at my son and I find him to be so strong, I say to him, how do you do that?

...