New documentary follows Flint man’s prison journey, fight for freedom
FLINT, Mich. — A new documentary explores a Flint man’s story of fate, family and more than five decades behind bars.
In 1973, Horace Peterson and his friend robbed a record store in Flint. During the incident, his friend, Nathaniel Porter, who legally changed his name in 1994 to Nathaniel Kalonji Owusu, forced 22-year-old Lorrie Snyder into a back room where he fatally shot her.
Young Horace Peterson (right) and friends pose for a photo. (Courtesy) 
Horace Peterson’s nephew, Lawrence Durrett Jr. peers out the front door of the Peterson family home in Flint, Mich. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat) 
Horace Petersons brother, Jimmy, gets a chance to talk to Horace on the phone during a family gathering on April 26, 2021. The family got together to film for a Change.org initiative to bring justice to Horace, who has been wrongfully imprisoned for 48 years. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat) 
Horace Peterson’s parents, David and Ollie Peterson from their 50th wedding anniversary celebration. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat) 
Horace Petersons grandson, Eric Woodyard stands outside of his family home holding an artwork of his grandfather by artist James Honeycutt on April 26, 2021. Woodyard is an ESPN sports reporter and uses his platform to advocate for the release of his grandfather. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat) 
Friends and family of Horace Peterson listen quietly during a phone call Horace made to the family home on April 26, 2021. Friends and family passed the phone around so everyone got a chance to say hello. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat) 
Friends and family of Horace Peterson pose outside of his late parents’ family home in Flint on April 26, 2021. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat) 
Jackie Peterson holds up an old photo of her brother Horace boxing before her went away to prison. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat) 
Jackie Peterson looks at old photos of her brother Horace on April 26, 2021. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat) 
Jimmy Peterson, Horace Peterson’s older brother, sits in his late parents’ home in Flint, Mich. on April 26, 2021. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat) 
Young Horace Peterson (left) and friends hold up trophies. (Courtesy) 
Rodney Porter sits on his balcony in Flint, Mich. on March 10, 2021. Porter served time in prison with Horace Peterson, who he considered a mentor. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
Although Peterson did not pull the trigger, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison alongside Owusu. Even though Owusu later testified that the robbery was his idea and Peterson didn’t kill anyone.
Filmmakers Sriya Sarkar and Devin Southard explore Peterson’s life, incarceration and enduring ties to family and community in “Coming Home.” Despite decades in prison, Peterson has remained a steady presence in the lives of loved ones — many of whom credit him as a source of strength and guidance.
A free documentary screening will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2025 in the C.S. Mott Foundation Community Room at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library. A panel discussion moderated by Jerome Threlkeld will follow.
For more information, contact Percy Glover at 810-210-4041 or percy.glover@outlook.com.
Read more about Peterson’s story here.
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