Subrahmanyam “Subu” Vedam was released on October 3 after serving more than 40 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. ICE immediately took him into custody.
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In early October, Subrahmanyam “Subu” Vedam, who had been imprisoned for 43 years for a murder he apparently did not commit, was ordered released.
But the next day, before he could even step out of the Pennsylvania prison where he had lived for decades, Vedum was placed in ICE custody. Now 64 years old, Vedum is facing deportation to the country he last lived in as a toddler.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement cited a 1988 deportation order for a murder conviction and drug offenses to justify his detention and deportation.
His family, including his niece, are devastated at potentially losing Vedam again.
“All we want is for him to be home with us and move on with his life,” Zoe Miller-Vedum told USA TODAY from her home in California.
In an emailed response to USA TODAY’s investigation, an ICE spokesperson said the agency acted on lawfully issued orders and noted that Vedum’s criminal history dates back to 1980, when he was 19 years old. He will remain in detention until he is deported, the spokesperson said.
His family and legal supporters are fighting to keep him in the United States, the only home the Indian native has ever known, his niece said.
Mr. Vedum’s motion to reopen his immigration case was filed on October 3., The day ICE arrested him, he is now before the Immigration Appeals Board, family spokesman Mike Truppa said. His family and supporters hope that the deportation order will be waived given Mr. Wedam’s innocence, his wrongful imprisonment, and his efforts to improve his life and that of other prisoners while in prison.
Only a “distant connection” to India
Her niece Vedam said she was born in India while her parents were visiting their home country for a funeral. They had been in the United States for years. They came back here when their son was 9 months old. Vedum grew up in State College, Pennsylvania, and only visited India occasionally.
“He doesn’t speak Hindi,” Miller-Vedum said. “We tease him that he has a Philadelphia accent more than anything else, because that’s the only way he ever spoke.” Her parents remained in Pennsylvania to visit him, but her grandparents in India and other relatives she may have known during brief visits as children have also passed away, she said.
“There is a connection, but it’s only a distant connection,” Miller-Vedum said. His memories of India are of “a distant past and an India that no longer exists.”
Attorney Eva Benack noted that Wedum is the longest-serving prisoner found innocent in Pennsylvania, and the ordeal should be enough for him to rebuild his life here in the United States.
“Subu has lived in the United States since he was 9 months old, when he arrived with his family as a lawful permanent resident,” Benac said in a statement provided to USA TODAY. “At the time of his arrest in 1982, he was still a lawful permanent resident and his application for citizenship had been accepted.”
Mr. Bedum “lost 40 years of his life to prison for a murder he did not commit,” and while in prison he worked to educate himself and other prisoners, earning praise and recognition for his philanthropy, Mr. Benack said.
charges against him
Wedum was charged and convicted of the murder of 19-year-old Tom Kinser, who disappeared from State University in late 1980. In September 1981, Kinser’s body was discovered in a wooded area. There were bullet holes in his skull.
Kinser and Wedam were classmates and, for a time, roommates. On the day Kinser disappeared, Wedam asked Kinser for a ride. The vehicle driven by Kinser returned to its usual location, but no one saw it return. Vedam, who was charged with murder, was denied bail and his passport and green card confiscated as he was considered a “foreigner who may flee.”
But Mr. Vedum’s supporters say there was no evidence of any animosity between the two men, and there were no witnesses or physical evidence linking Mr. Vedum to the crime.
Convicted of murder in Pennsylvania state court in 1983, Wedam was sentenced to life in prison. In 1984, as part of a plea deal, Vedum was sentenced to an additional 2 1/2 to 5 years for drug crimes, to be served concurrently with his life sentence.
However, Mr. Vedum, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, has always pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
He continued to appeal his murder conviction. New evidence came to light in 2021, and on October 2, Center County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna announced that the charges would be dropped and that there would be no new trial against Vedum.
“His entire adult life was spent behind bars.”
Miller-Vedum said her uncle spent “his entire adult life in prison” but was able to maintain a meaningful presence in his family’s life. He wrote frequently, called as many times as they allowed, and welcomed their visits whenever possible. She described Vedum as a “wonderful, kind and gentle person” and was pleased with his innocence.
She said he is holding out hope that he will be able to remain in the United States. Although she is able to contact her family more freely from the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania, than she was in prison, she fears she will have a hard time adjusting to life in India.
She noted that he is not familiar with many modern technologies. You will have a hard time finding housing, work, and connections in a completely new country, but in the United States you will have the support of your family and others to help you rebuild your life.
For now, Vedum is looking forward to visiting and reuniting with her family and giving back by continuing to help educate others, she said.
“We’re taking it one day at a time,” Miller-Vedum said. “But I think there is a compelling case for the board to show some sympathy.”
