Jamie Fuller’s journey of transformation and redemption unfolded against a backdrop of challenges. From educational obstacles to peer pressures, the twists and turns of his life led him down a dark path that ultimately landed him in prison.
On August 23, 1991, Fuller stabbed and stomped to death his 14-year-old girlfriend Amy Carnevale out of jealousy and anger. He was 16 years old at the time.
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Life Behind Bars
Jamie Fuller’s story is a testament to the potential for personal transformation. His life behind bars was a profound chapter that shaped his future and left an indelible mark on the landscape of criminal justice.
Jamie Fuller, now 43, was 16 when he murdered his on-again off-again girlfriend Amy Carnevale, 14. He lured her to a wooded area near his home and killed her with a knife that he took from a kitchen drawer. After he killed her, he tied her to cinder blocks and dumped her body in Shoe Pond in Beverly, Massachusetts. He showed no remorse for her murder and even told friends that he would kill them next if they said anything.
He was convicted of first-degree murder in 1992 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. But in 2013, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that life sentences without parole for teenagers violated their constitutional rights, and Fuller was eligible for parole. He is now incarcerated at MCI Shirley in Shirley, Massachusetts.
The story of his crime is the subject of a new movie called “No One Would Tell,” starring Candace Cameron Bure and Fred Savage, which premieres March 30, 2019 on Lifetime. The movie will also be featured in the upcoming season of the Lifetime Original Movies series.
Fuller’s parole hearing was scheduled for Feb. 12, but it was postponed until at least April. He will serve an additional five to 15 years for second-degree home invasion, which is consecutive to the 19 months to five years Branch County Circuit Judge Bill O’Grady added to a parole term he handed down in 2014 for felony drunken driving.
Fuller has worked hard to build a meaningful life in prison and is making progress toward his goal of earning a bachelor’s degree. He has also volunteered to be a mentor to other inmates, and he’s working with the nonprofit community to raise awareness of mental health issues among young people. His efforts have earned him a reputation as an influential voice in the prison system and have inspired countless people both inside and outside of the walls.
Building a Better Future
Jamie Fuller’s story is a powerful reminder of the human spirit’s capacity for change. His journey from incarceration to parole eligibility exemplifies the profound transformation that can occur when determination, resilience and a commitment to a brighter future guide one’s path forward.
Jamie’s life was forged against a backdrop of formidable challenges, and his early years were defined by educational obstacles and social pressures. The choices he made led him into the world of criminal activity and ultimately to encounters with the criminal justice system. But despite the circumstances, Fuller’s spirit of determination and resolve never wavered.
After more than two decades behind bars, Jamie’s path to redemption and change reached a pivotal point in 2019. At 43, he became eligible for a parole hearing, marking a key milestone that would transform his outlook on the world around him.
For 26 years, Fuller navigated the complexities of prison life and experienced a variety of unimaginable hardships and moments of self-discovery. He learned the importance of a healthy and supportive network and was able to develop meaningful friendships that would serve as sources of support during his difficult times. He also gained valuable insights and began to understand that he had the power to control his own destiny, even within the confines of prison walls.
After his release from jail, Fuller’s first post-prison job was with a community mental health center. He then joined the staff of a local women’s program at Community Bridges, where he currently works as a Housing Specialist. He is committed to continuing his advocacy work for criminal justice reform and athlete welfare and hopes that his stories will inspire others on their own paths toward healing, redemption and a brighter future.
Our guest today is the former Executive Chairman of Australian sportswear brand SKINS and is the Chairman and co-founder of sports technology company eo. He is a staunch opponent of doping, corruption and homophobia in elite sports. He was instrumental in SKINS dropping Melbourne Storm after its salary cap scandal and is the founder of the international pressure group, Change Cycling Now.
Embracing Redemption
While incarcerated, Fuller found a newfound sense of purpose and an opportunity to transform his life. His story offers a valuable lesson in the importance of embracing redemption and believing that you have the ability to build a brighter future, no matter your past. Embracing redemption is the process of changing your mindset, letting go of negativity, and making a commitment to personal growth. This process requires determination, resilience, and an unwavering belief that you can overcome any challenge.
Embracing redemption is not an easy process. It takes time and effort to change your mindset, let go of negative habits, and commit to personal growth. It also requires a strong support system to help you through difficult times. Jamie Fuller was fortunate to have a strong support system that helped him through his journey. He took advantage of this opportunity and used his prison experience to learn about himself, grow as a person, and improve his community. During his incarceration, he discovered ways to build a better future and help others do the same.
The first film Fuller made while behind bars, I Shot Jesse James (1952), tries so hard to create a sense of emotional impact that it ends up seeming overwrought and melodramatic. For instance, the movie tries to elicit feelings for the betrayed Jesse by dramatizing the way Ford shoots him in his own home, straightening a picture of Jesse on a shelf.
This early work reveals the pitfalls of Fuller’s approach to the genre, which was so committed to the notion that combat was the ultimate metaphor for life that it developed an anti-intellectual bias and a near contempt for the contemplative nuances of culture and art. In contrast, Fuller would later hone his ability to evoke sensuous details of place with the camera in films like Pickup on South Street, and to show that desperate men could be complex and even noble.
The second film Fuller made while in prison, Scandal Sheet (1955), shows a more disciplined approach to the complexities of war and human nature. Its central character, Lance McCleary (Reed Hadley), is less of a sex symbol than the James figure, and is portrayed as a man who struggles with his conscience. The performance of the central villain, Zack, is more consistent with Fuller’s vision, although he still falls into the same trap by emphasizing violence as the ultimate tool of survival.
The Legacy of Jamie Fuller
Jamie Fuller, who was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 14-year-old Amy Carnevale, is about to have his first parole hearing since he was 20. The event will mark a milestone in his life and could also change the way people view capital punishment.
Amy Carnevale was a sweet, happy and kind girl who saw the best in everyone. She was always the first to help her friends, and she hoped to become a hairdresser when she graduated from high school. But on August 23, 1991, her dreams were brutally cut short when she was murdered by 16-year-old Jamie Fuller.
Fuller was a popular but ill-tempered teenager, and his possessiveness and jealousy negatively affected his relationships. He was dating a cheerleader from Beverly High School named Amy Carnevale. The two entered a dysfunctional relationship that was characterized by Fuller’s dominance and Carnevale’s submissiveness.
The two were together on the night of the murder and at Carnevale’s house on August 24. When she returned home, Fuller confronted her over an argument they had previously had about his mother. He then strangled her with a ligature and threw her body into a pond.
A few days after her death, one of Amy’s friends led police to the pond where her body was found. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Fuller was charged with her murder and convicted of capital murder in 1992.
During his trial, prosecutors withheld information about the role of Jamie McMillan in Fuller’s attack. McMillan was a known gang member at the time and a suspect in several other crimes, including rapes. Fuller’s attorneys are asking the Supreme Court to review whether the government should have disclosed his status to the defense.
Today, Fuller lives with his 14-year-old son in a housing project behind two manufacturing plants. He serves as an elder at the tiny Pentecostal Let the Truth Be Told Ministries church in Portageville, where he’s been able to find a measure of peace when it comes to his mother’s murder and hopes that his own journey inspires others.
