Erin Moriarty

Melissa Koyuzinski has served 16 years of a 31-year prison sentence for the death of Benjamin Kingen, a 16-month-old whom she cared for at an Illinois daycare center. She has long insisted she is innocent.

Melissa Koyuzinski has served 16 years of a 31-year prison sentence for the death of Benjamin Kingen, a 16-month-old whom she cared for at an Illinois daycare center. She has long insisted she is innocent.

We've been covering this case for more than a decade. And over the years, Melissa's appeals have failed. But she and her attorney, Kathleen Zellmer, are not backing down. Now they're taking their fight out of the court system and straight to the governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, and his prisoner review board.

We've been covering this case for more than a decade. And over the years, Melissa's appeals have failed. But she and her attorney, Kathleen Zellmer, are not backing down. Now they're taking their fight out of the court system and straight to the governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, and his prisoner review board.

We've been covering this case for more than a decade. And over the years, Melissa's appeals have failed. But she and her attorney, Kathleen Zellmer, are not backing down. Now they're taking their fight out of the court system and straight to the governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, and his prisoner review board.

The story began on January 14, 2009. Melissa, then 22 years old, was working as a teacher's assistant at the Minisubi Daycare in Lincolnshire, an affluent suburb of Chicago. Ben Kingan attended daycare there, along with his twin sister and their two older siblings.

The story began on January 14, 2009. Melissa, then 22 years old, was working as a teacher's assistant at the Minisubi Daycare in Lincolnshire, an affluent suburb of Chicago. Ben Kingan attended daycare there, along with his twin sister and their two older siblings.

The story began on January 14, 2009. Melissa, then 22 years old, was working as a teacher's assistant at the Minisubi Daycare in Lincolnshire, an affluent suburb of Chicago. Ben Kingan attended daycare there, along with his twin sister and their two older siblings.

Late that afternoon, after the kids were fed a snack and cleaned up, Melissa says she put Ben down on the carpet and he crawled into his bouncy seat on the floor.

Late that afternoon, after the kids were fed a snack and cleaned up, Melissa says she put Ben down on the carpet and he crawled into his bouncy seat on the floor.

Late that afternoon, after the kids were fed a snack and cleaned up, Melissa says she put Ben down on the carpet and he crawled into his bouncy seat on the floor.

The teacher working with Melissa stepped out of the room briefly, leaving Melissa alone with the children. That's when Melissa says she noticed something wrong with Ben.

The teacher working with Melissa stepped out of the room briefly, leaving Melissa alone with the children. That's when Melissa says she noticed something wrong with Ben.

The teacher working with Melissa stepped out of the room briefly, leaving Melissa alone with the children. That's when Melissa says she noticed something wrong with Ben.

Melissa called for help. Her older sister, Crystal Kaluzinski, also worked at the daycare at the time.

Melissa called for help. Her older sister, Crystal Kaluzinski, also worked at the daycare at the time.

Melissa called for help. Her older sister, Crystal Kaluzinski, also worked at the daycare at the time.

What's that like for you, Crystal?

What's that like for you, Crystal?

What's that like for you, Crystal?