Help Free Paul Cortez

05/15/2025

Jennifer Cahill Shadle: 11 Years of Silence, 11 Years of Injustice

Eleven years. That’s how long Jennifer Cahill Shadle has been missing. Eleven years of pain, heartbreak, and unanswered questions. Eleven years of fighting for those in charge to care.

From the moment Jennifer disappeared, the system failed her. Local authorities dragged their feet for 30 critical days - precious time wasted. Instead of launching an immediate search, they chose to believe baseless rumors from people they should have been investigating. Vital evidence slipped away. When it became clear that indifference or worse, a cover-up, was at play, we had to take matters into our own hands and hire outside investigators.

We didn’t sit back. Jennifer’s mother, aunts, and cousins mobilized the community—plastering the area with posters, setting up social media campaigns, documenting evidence, researching leads, and building an investigation for the authorities. We begged local and state officials for help. And yet - silence. Not a single response from the elected officials in the State College area. Not one.

How is this possible? A young mother goes missing, and it doesn’t set off alarm bells? How can those sworn to protect the public be so indifferent? Instead of leading the search, authorities dismissed us, ignored clues, and only took action after we refused to back down.

We’ve fought for over a decade to break through the indifference, but the apathy in State College is chilling. Jennifer’s life should matter. All victims' lives should matter. How many more have to go missing before the authorities care enough to act?

Jennifer was a devoted mother who just wanted to be with her children and family. Her disappearance should have shaken the entire community. Instead, those with the power to make a difference remain silent. Those who know something have reinvented themselves, hoping we will forget. But we won’t. We will never give up. We will keep fighting for justice.

Women are disappearing in State College, Pennsylvania. Murders and unsolved cases continue to build in Pennsylvania, yet Jennifer’s fate remains a mystery. Does Jennifer’s life matter to those in charge? Where are the officials - the Governor, the representatives, the senators, the town council? If Jennifer were their family member, would they still be silent?

Jennifer matters. Every woman in State College matters. We’ve done everything on our end - fighting for answers, helping the police, urging the authorities to care. But when prosecutors promise to fight for Jennifer and then vanish without a word, it breaks something inside you. You start to lose faith.

If you know anything about Jennifer Cahill Shadle’s disappearance, please come forward. We beg you...help us fight for justice.

Keep Jennifer in your prayers. Please help us keep her memory - and her fight for justice - alive. We need community members, media agencies, podcasters, writers, and anyone who can help bring attention to Jennifer. There isn’t a night that goes by where her family doesn’t wonder: Where is she? Is she being held somewhere? Was she murdered?

Where is Jennifer?

09/14/2023

RALLY FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS

Hello All,
There will be a rally for wrongful convictions next week in which my (Paul V. Cortez's) exoneration and freedom will be highlighted and rallied for. If you can make, take off work, or otherwise come, I will be most appreciative. It will be an organized event with some notable speakers present. Here is the info:

Day: Tuesday, Sept. 19th
Time: 10:30AM
Where: City Hall, West Entrance Broadway
Contact info: (718) 675-4884

Please spread it around on all your social media platforms.

www.freepaulcortez.com

Love and peace

03/18/2022

March 18, 2022

Today is Paul’s birthday. Paul Cortez is 42 years old today. Paul is spending another birthday locked in a cage being punished for a crime HE DID NOT COMMIT. Paul has endured many years of punishment and has been robbed of years of freedom and opportunities. Anyone with an ounce of common sense or sound judgement could easily determine that Paul Cortez has always been and continues to be an incredibly decent person who would not commit such a heinous act. Paul has endured an obscene amount of torture with dignity and grace and is now forced to pass another milestone in his life incarcerated. I must think he will be sad and emotionally challenged not celebrating this with friends and family that are so precious to him. I can actually imagine Paul will not be celebrating at all but will probably be remembering happier times when he was pursing the hopes and dreams he had for his promising young life. I can imagine he will be remembering all the sacrifices and hard work he had put into working towards his ambitious goals. He probably will remember with extreme sadness how he was blindsided by our justice system. He probably will be trying to understand why his life could be destroyed at the very time he was on the verge of success and about to realize some reward for all the sacrifices he had made. He probably will once again ask why and how he could be accused and convicted of a crime he would never possibly be able to commit especially to someone he cherished and tried to protect. He probably will be saddened by the fact he is not believed when he has told the truth but few will listen. He probably will be saddened by the fact that so few will be outraged by this horrific injustice and will not come and help fight for the very justice we are all supposedly promised. Today it is Paul being denied justice but tomorrow it can and will be someone else very decent. But, Paul is spiritually strong and stays positive. He continues to fight for the chance to prove he is innocent of the horrific accusations that led to his wrongful conviction. Paul Cortez is a very gentle and decent person. He is not violent or prone to anger and has never had any incidents in his life that would demonstrate otherwise. The fact that Catherine Woods died is a devastating fact to all that loved her and that surly includes Paul who has a documented history of adoring and trying to protect her. Paul is the person she always turned to when she needed help and he could never refuse her requests. He worried constantly about her and her risky lifestyle. Sadly though that kindness and care was twisted by the press and prosecutor and used against him. To care so deeply for someone, be accused of causing their death, and not be able to defend yourself is ludicrous and a horrible injustice. But, the reality is that justice is for the wealthy. Sadly, Paul's budget was meager and that is what he got; meager legal support. With little defense to counter the New York tabloids and an over zealous prosecutor misrepresenting Paul using erroneous or "overlooked information", Paul was convicted in the "court of public opinion". It became a fait accompli for a conviction or more accurately a wrongful conviction by a jury exposed to this misinformation with no refute or challenge from Paul's inept lawyers. Once convicted, the fight to correct the wrongful conviction is incredibly complicated and expensive. For those of us waging the fight over many years for a fair trial, the frustration is knowing the truth could be easily found if that were the primary concern of the law. After years of study and meeting with experts that should have initially been consulted by his inept lawyers, we are emphatic in our belief in Paul's innocence. These many years later we continue to plead with all fair minded people to please support correcting wrongful convictions and please lend support to this specific fight to allow a wonderful man to have an opportunity to have the truth be heard. We pray that soon Paul will be granted the freedom he justly deserves and be surrounded by the family and friends he loves and misses. Our wishes are for Paul to stay strong and be comforted by his faith in God and the friends fighting to have the truth be heard. We pray this will be the year he is granted at least an opportunity for a fair chance to prove the truth of his absolute innocence. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/242-jason-flom-with-paul-cortez/id1151670380?i=1000549019568

‎Show @@@, Ep #242 Jason Flom with Paul Cortez - Jan 25, 2022

02/05/2022

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/242-jason-flom-with-paul-cortez/id1151670380?i=1000549019568

‎Show Wrongful Conviction, Ep #242 Jason Flom with Paul Cortez - Jan 25, 2022

02/05/2022

file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/57/07/5B1EDD35-4310-4561-AF2A-6B753306AB94/S12E118%20WC%20Paul%20Cortez%20-%20Audiogram%20-%20subtiled.mov

01/27/2022

Music Mogul Breaks Murder Case Wide Open!!

Lava Records Founder & CEO Jason Flom's newest podcast reveals shocking evidence proving inmate Paul Cortez was wrongfully convicted and did not commit murder.

In his latest podcast, Flom exposes the newly discovered smoking gun exonerating evidence, racial injustices, failed criminal investigation, and media witch hunts that led to this appalling injustice.

Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/242-jason-flom-with-paul-cortez/id1151670380?i=1000549019568

04/02/2021

April2, 2021

Paul Cortez was 41 years old 10 days ago. But, rather than acknowledge ANOTHER birthday locked in a cage for a crime HE DID NOT COMMIT, we want to remember Paul on Good Friday, a day that symbolizes God’s love and plan for salvation. On Good Friday we remember the day Jesus endured suffering and sacrifice but also points to a coming time of rebirth and resurrection. Paul has endured years of hell locked in a cage being punished for something HE DID NOT DO. Paul Cortez has been robbed of years of freedom and opportunities. Anyone with an ounce of common sense or judgement could easily determine that Paul Cortez is an incredibly decent person who would not commit such a heinous act. Paul has endured an obscene amount of torture with dignity and grace and is now forced to pass this milestone in his life incarcerated. I must think he will be sad and emotionally challenged not celebrating this with friends and family that are so precious to him. I can actually imagine Paul will not be celebrating at all but will probably be remembering happier times when he was pursing the hopes and dreams he had for his promising young life. I can imagine he will be remembering all the sacrifices and hard work he had put into working towards his ambitious goals. He probably will remember with extreme sadness how he was blindsided by our justice system. He probably will be trying to understand why his life could be destroyed at the very time he was on the verge of success and about to realize some reward for all the sacrifices he had made. He probably will once again ask why and how he could be accused and convicted of a crime he would never possibly be able to commit especially to someone he cherished and tried to protect. He probably will be saddened by the fact he is not believed when he has told the truth but few will listen. He probably will be saddened by the fact that so few will be outraged by this horrific injustice and will not come and help fight for the very justice we are all supposedly promised. Today it is Paul being denied justice but tomorrow it can and will be someone else very decent. But, Paul is spiritually strong and stays positive. He continues to fight for the chance to prove he is innocent of the horrific accusations that led to his wrongful conviction. Paul Cortez is a very gentle and decent person. He is not violent or prone to anger and has never had any incidents in his life that would demonstrate otherwise. The fact that Catherine Woods died is a devastating fact to all that loved her and that surly includes Paul who has a documented history of adoring and trying to protect her. Paul is the person she always turned to when she needed help and he could never refuse her requests. He worried constantly about her and her risky lifestyle. Sadly though that kindness and care was twisted by the press and prosecutor and used against him. To care so deeply for someone, be accused of causing their death, and not be able to defend yourself is ludicrous and a horrible injustice. But, the reality is that justice is for the wealthy. Sadly, Paul's budget was meager and that is what he got; meager legal support. With little defense to counter the New York tabloids and an over zealous prosecutor misrepresenting Paul using erroneous or "overlooked information", Paul was convicted in the "court of public opinion". It became a fait accompli for a conviction or more accurately a wrongful conviction by a jury exposed to this misinformation with no refute or challenge from Paul's inept lawyers. Once convicted, the fight to correct the wrongful conviction is incredibly complicated and expensive. For those of us waging the fight over many years for a fair trial, the frustration is knowing the truth could be easily found if that were the primary concern of the law. After years of study and meeting with experts that should have initially been consulted by his inept lawyers, we are emphatic in our belief in Paul's innocence. These many years later we continue to plead with all fair minded people to please support correcting wrongful convictions and please lend support to this specific fight to allow a wonderful man to have an opportunity to have the truth be heard. We pray that Paul's next birthday will have him surrounded in the freedom he justly deserves by the family and friends he loves and misses. Our wishes are for Paul to stay strong and be comforted by his faith in God and the friends fighting to have the truth be heard. We pray this will be the year he is granted at least an opportunity for a fair chance to prove the truth of his absolute innocence.

01/14/2021

https://innocenceproject.org/what-to-watch-best-series-documentaries-true-crime-criminal-justice-2020/

From "The Innocence Files" to "The Trial of the Chicago Seven," these films and series shine a spotlight on injustice.

08/19/2020

Paul Cortez Releases Book!

We are deeply proud of Paul and this incredible accomplishment. Get your Copy Today:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0891F89S3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

God's Hand Reaches Down: Evangelism in the American Maximum Security Prison System

08/11/2020

In 2007, Paul Vincent Cortez was wrongfully convicted for a crime he did not commit, and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Struggling to navigate through the harsh confines of New York's maximum-security prison system, Paul met prison chaplain Allen Douglas Ferry. It was Rev. Ferry who helped Paul up from a life of despair and led him to a new life with Jesus.After his retirement in 2012, Rev. Ferry kept in touch with Paul, as well as other faithful men in prison, through mail correspondence - he encouraged them to stay on Jesus' path. With his mentor gone, Paul leaned into faith and began leading other prisoners to Christ. Over the last decade, Paul has touched the lives of hundreds of incarcerated men with the Gospel message, using his talents in music, visual arts, and writing to draw souls to God.Then in March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown the U.S. economy in a prolonged quarantine. The whole world now shared in a measure of the imprisonment and isolation which 2.3 million incarcerated people in the U.S. like Paul face every day. During this time, Paul reflected over the last 15 years of his confinement. His journey led him to realize, “every person is a prisoner to something or someone. We must all reach down to bring those suffering out of bo***ge into the faith of Jesus Christ.” Through his faith-based book, "God's Hand Reaches Down: Evangelism in the American Maximum-Security Prison System,” Paul chronicles not only his spiritual journey, but the lives of many of the unknown saints that live behind the wall working to save lost souls from the prison of sin. Authentic and spiritually touching, "God's Hand Reaches Down" offers insight into the little-known world of the incarcerated Church, while providing an effective approach on how to evangelize to prisoners in the often dark and dangerous confines of captivity.This is a must read for any faith based person looking to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. 2020's must read.

04/30/2020

“We are all in this together, we will get through it”.... A phrase created and issued every day to our population.
We hear constantly how difficult it is to stay sequestered without the freedom to go about our daily lives from the confines of our homes. Our homes that offer resources that really give the ability to move about for exercise and keep us entertained. Our homes that offer safety and the ability to be protected from a deadly virus. Yet, we constantly hear how difficult this is and a challenge for our over all well being.
Image being confined to a 4 by 6 cell with no resources in a petrie dish of germs. Imagine sitting in a cage waiting for the symptoms to hit knowing your medical care is limited and a low priority. Imagine being caged for a crime you did not commit waiting for the truth to be accepted?
Paul Cortez is innocent and an incredibly wonderful human being. Most of us will get through the difficulties of a virus. We pray Paul will be able to take on yet another challenge in his fight to allow the REAL facts to give him an opportunity for a fair fight to prove the truth of his innocence. All fair minded people should demand nothing less.