'Remarkable' woman killed in Galway house fire spent five years on death row in US prison

A woman in her 70s who spent 17 years in prison and five of them on death row in Florida died tragically in a house fire in Galway, along with a man in his 30s who is said to be her caretaker.

The woman has been named as Sonia 'Sunny' Jacobs and was featured on 'Wrongful Convictions' for the murder of two police officers, a crime which she did not commit.

Since then, Sunny spent her time advocating for the death penalty abolition.

Irish people were shocked and devastated to learn that Sunny had died in a tragic house fire in Connemara, Galway recently, as tributes have poured in from across the country.

Sunny met her husband in Ireland in 1998, Peter Pringle, who also survived a wrongful death sentence. 

It has been revealed in a post on Facebook that the man in his 30s who died alongside Sunny was her caretaker.

One tribute was from a man on Facebook, who is heartbroken over the tragic death of Sunny.

In a tribute post dedicated to Sunny, he said: "My heart is very sore with the news that our dear friend Sunny Jacobs died in a house fire this morning. This is the photo that led me to Sunny about, or at least it was one very like it.

"I first saw it in a newspaper around 18 years ago and knew that the woman with that smile had lessons for the world. She sure did. I later met her, and we became good friends. In the past year, I've been lucky to live quite near her.

"If you don't know her story, it's worth reading her book, Stolen Time. I also interviewed her for my Love and Courage podcast and she features briefly in my book.

"Sunny was imprisoned in the US at age 28, serving 17 years for a crime she didn't commit, including 5 years in solitary. During this time, her partner was killed in the electric chair, and her parents (who were looking after her two children) were killed in a plane crash. Upon release from prison, she was hit by a car, and her injuries caused her huge pain and mobility challenges until the end.

"Despite all, Sunny smiled. Oh, how she smiled. Through yoga, meditation, and true Bodhisattva warriorship, this remarkable woman went on to travel the world (in her wheelchair) advocating against the death penalty, including recent talks in Paris and Strasbourg. Really she was advocating for love. Alongside her late husband Peter, she also welcomed many exonerees to her sanctuary home in Connemara, offering a place for rest and healing after miscarriages of justice.

"The media isn't reporting much about this aspect of her story, but it's worth highlighting that, right until the end - and with every little means - Sunny, at age 77, worked tirelessly: daily international phone calls, Zoom meetings, talks, podcasts, media and events, including fundraising for the Sunny Foundation in the US.

"She never stopped giving, and in all of this, she kept gratitude at the heart of her practice."

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"Always grateful for beauty, for animals, for nature, for friendship, for life.
Sunny, we are grateful to have known you. Thank you, Sunny, for shining your tremendous light. Your spirit will live on, strong and true. With love to her children and grandchildren, and to all who knew and loved her. Ruairí x".

"We're reeling after hearing about the tragic death of Sonia "Sunny" Jacobs, who died earlier today in a house fire in Connemara, Ireland. One of the first guests on 'WRONGFUL CONVICTION', Sonia “Sunny” Jacobs spent 17 years in prison—5 on death row—in Florida for the murder of two police officers—a crime she did not commit. After she was exonerated, Sunny became a staunch advocate for death penalty abolition. This work led her to Ireland in 1998, where she met her husband, Peter Pringle, who had also survived a wrongful death sentence. You can listen to Sunny's heartfelt story on episode #003 of WRONGFUL CONVICTION, where her integrity, hope, and resilience shine through. Rest in peace, Sunny," another Facebook tribute said.

Another tribute piece was from The Sunny Centre, who said that the man in his 30s who died in the house fire with Sonia was her caretaker.