Callum Jones
Here's how a mother's random selfie ultimately saved her innocent son from a period of 99 years behind bars.
Many of us will decide to take a picture for the purpose of memories - but little did one mom know a selfie with her son would save him from prison.
Come 22 September, 2017, Christopher Precopia found himself in jail facing a prison sentence of 99 years after being charged with first-degree felony burglary of a habitation with intent to commit additional felonies, according to the police affidavit.
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Precopia had broken up with his girlfriend a number of years prior, with Erin Precopia, his mother, telling ABC News the couple only dated for a period of six weeks.
The former girlfriend, who remains unnamed, sustained injuries from the attack consisting of an 'X' sliced into her chest with a box cutter.
Precopia became a suspect after the alleged victim told the police their relationship was 'troubled' when they dated in high school.
In the eyes of officials, this put Precopia as a prime suspect. But he was always an innocent party, and as per USA Today, Precopia said he 'had no idea why everything was happening' when he was taken into custody.
There was a key bit of evidence that ultimately saved Precopia, however.
On the night that his former girlfriend was allegedly attacked, Precopia was in fact with his mother, Erin, at a hotel in Austin, Texas.
The hotel was said to be 65 miles from the accuser's home, making it a sufficient alibi for the confused alleged culprit, Precopia.
As per USA Today, his relieved mother, Erin said: "This is awesome. By the grace of God she said it happened on the day when I can totally, 100 percent, where he was."
So, what evidence was provided to police to prove Precopia was innocent?
His mother remembered posting a group selfie at the same time of the alleged attack that was geolocated and time-stamped. The photo evidently showed accused Precopia in the corner on the left foreground along with another couple in the background.
"Thankfully, I do log on Facebook all the time, and I check in when I go places," Erin added.
Thousands of dollars and countless meetings with their lawyer later, the Precopia family took their blatant evidence to the Bell County prosecutor.
Nine months following his arrest, charges were dropped 'in the interest of justice' and Precopia was released.
Precopia has since said to USA Today: "I'm ready to actually live my life, the way I want to, without having any kind of worry that this can come back and hurt me."