About The Film
33 and Counting is a true-crime story about a 70-year-old grandmother from rural Missouri serving a life sentence for a murder she says her rapist committed.
In America, can a woman be sentenced to life for having an affair? Lawyers say that's exactly what happened in this small town in 1985.
Our investigative documentary reveals the significant problems with the investigation and prosecution of Patty Prewitt’s case, along with the role gender bias played in her conviction.
We look at the toll her imprisonment has taken on her surviving children, the tremendous impact she has made while in prison and why lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are fighting for her release.
Patty’s Story
Meet Patty Prewitt
Patty Prewitt is a devoted mother to her four living children and grandmother of 13 grandchildren. Since 1986, Patty has been serving a life sentence for the murder of her husband. She refused a plea deal and has maintained her innocence throughout. A model inmate, Patty earned multiple academic diplomas, served the state as a computer programmer and has been a leader in Prison Performing Arts, Restorative Justice and Residents Encounter Christ.
Meet Jane Watkins
Jane Watkins is the oldest daughter of Bill and Patty Prewitt. She was only 16 when her mother began her life sentence. Now 50, she is a mother of two children, has one grandchild and runs an interior painting business. She lives near Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband, where she has a bedroom waiting for her mother.
Meet Zach Van Benthusen
Zachary Van Benthusen, 30, is the oldest grandchild of Bill and Patty Prewitt. He has never known his grandmother outside of prison.
Impact
Patty’s Impact
Patty is the longest serving inmate at her prison in Vandalia, Missouri. She has served as a mentor for generations of women behind bars, who are now living productive lives outside of prison. Patty is not eligible to appear before the parole board until 2036, when she will be 86 years old. She is awaiting a decision on her clemency petition submitted in 2010 and pending before Missouri Governor Mike Parson.
Our Crew
Aisha Sultan
Director/Executive Producer
Aisha Sultan is a nationally syndicated columnist, filmmaker, and speaker. Her work has run in more than a hundred publications, including The Atlantic, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. Aisha has worked as a staff writer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch since 1998. She also teaches college writing at Washington University.
Cristina Fletes
Editor/Cinematographer
Cristina is the Multimedia Coordinator for the St. Louis County government. She is a former Staff Photographer/Videographer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Sean Loftin
Cinematographer
Sean is the owner of Ubertonic Films and a freelance cinematographer in St. Louis. He graduated from Western Kentucky University with a degree in photojournalism.
Thomas Newcomb
Cinematographer
Tom is a cinematographer and owner of Black Truck Pictures. He has 42 years of experience and an old black truck.
Morgan Little
Assistant Editor
Morgan Little graduated from the University of North Texas in 2019. She is a full time cinematographer and editor at Pixel Studio Productions.
Gabe Sheets
Story Consultant/Website Developer
Gabe Sheets is a St. Louis based writer/director. He made his first short film at the age of 12 and has since garnered an abundance of experience working on film sets while also doing freelance work.
How you can watch the film.
