The Tragic Story Of Morgan Freeman’s Granddaughter: E’Dena Hines’ Life, Career, And The Shocking 20-Year Sentence

The name E’Dena Hines is tragically linked to one of Hollywood’s most respected figures, Morgan Freeman, but her story is far more than a footnote in a celebrity’s life. As of December 15, 2025, the details of her life, burgeoning acting career, and the brutal, shocking manner of her death continue to resonate, especially as her killer serves a lengthy prison sentence. This is a deep dive into the life of the vibrant 33-year-old actress, the circumstances of her fatal 2015 stabbing in New York City, and the final judicial closure that followed.

E’Dena Hines was not Morgan Freeman’s biological granddaughter, but she was deeply loved and considered family, a fact the Academy Award-winning actor emphasized in his public statements. Her life was cut short by an act of domestic violence, leaving behind a legacy of an ambitious artist and a family forever scarred by senseless tragedy. The case, involving her live-in boyfriend, Lamar Davenport, brought intense media scrutiny to the private grief of the Freeman family.

E'Dena Hines: A Life Cut Short (Biography & Profile)

E’Dena Hines was a driven, ambitious actress and writer who was just beginning to make her mark in the entertainment industry before her life was tragically taken. She was the granddaughter of Jeanette Adair Bradshaw, Morgan Freeman’s first wife, which established her unique connection to the iconic actor.

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• Full Name: E'Dena Hines (sometimes credited as Edena Hines)
• Date of Birth: March 4, 1982
• Date of Death: August 16, 2015
• Age at Death: 33 years old
• Place of Death: Washington Heights, Upper Manhattan, New York City
• Relationship to Morgan Freeman: Step-Granddaughter (Granddaughter of his first wife, Jeanette Adair Bradshaw).
• Mother: Deena Adair (Morgan Freeman's adopted daughter from his first marriage).
• Education: Studied acting at New York University (NYU).
• Career: Budding actress and writer. She taught acting to inner-city youth in Memphis, Tennessee, before moving to New York to pursue her career.
• Notable Film Credits: Moll Flanders (1996), 5 Flights Up (2014), and Landing Up (2016), which was released posthumously.

Hines was known for her passion for the arts and her dedication to her craft. She had recently returned to New York to film the independent movie Landing Up, which she completed just days before her murder.

The Shocking Details of the 2015 Murder in NYC

The tragedy occurred in the early hours of Sunday, August 16, 2015, outside E’Dena Hines’ apartment building on West 162nd Street in Washington Heights, New York City. The police responded to a 911 call around 3 a.m. and found Hines lying on the street with multiple stab wounds to her chest.

The perpetrator was her live-in boyfriend, Lamar Davenport. Eyewitnesses reported a horrifying scene where Davenport was allegedly shouting about "releasing the demons" as he inflicted the fatal wounds. Hines was stabbed with a knife more than two dozen times. She was rushed to Harlem Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

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The crime was quickly linked to Davenport's drug and alcohol abuse. Prosecutors later established that he was high on PCP (Phencyclidine), a powerful hallucinogen, during the attack. The brutal and public nature of the attack sent shockwaves through the community and the celebrity world, drawing immediate attention due to her connection to the legendary actor, Morgan Freeman. Freeman released a statement expressing his profound grief, saying, "The world will never know what her talent and artistry would have offered."

Lamar Davenport’s Trial, Conviction, and Current Status

The legal proceedings against Lamar Davenport were lengthy and highly publicized, culminating in a conviction three years after the murder. The defense argued for diminished capacity due to drug-induced psychosis, claiming Davenport did not have the intent to kill. However, the prosecution successfully argued that his voluntary consumption of mind-altering drugs did not absolve him of responsibility for the brutal killing.

Key Milestones in the Case:

• The Crime: August 16, 2015, in New York City.
• The Charge: Davenport was initially charged with second-degree murder.
• The Conviction: In May 2018, Lamar Davenport was convicted of first-degree manslaughter by a jury in the New York State Supreme Court.
• The Sentencing: Later in 2018, Davenport was sentenced to 20 years in state prison.

During his sentencing hearing, Davenport offered an apology to Hines' family, though it was a moment of little comfort for those grieving. The judge’s sentence of 20 years for the manslaughter conviction reflected the severity and brutality of the crime. The conviction of manslaughter rather than murder was a point of contention, but it ensured a long custodial sentence for the killer.

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As of today, Lamar Davenport is currently serving his 20-year sentence in a New York State correctional facility, with reports indicating he is housed at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Given the 2018 sentencing, he is not eligible for release until the late 2030s. His conviction and subsequent imprisonment provide the final, painful closure to the tragedy that ended the life of E’Dena Hines.

The Controversial Rumors and Family Dynamics

The intense media coverage of E’Dena Hines’ murder also resurfaced old, damaging rumors about her relationship with Morgan Freeman. In a bizarre twist during the trial, Davenport’s defense team attempted to introduce evidence suggesting an alleged inappropriate relationship between Hines and Freeman.

Morgan Freeman had vehemently and publicly denied these rumors years earlier, in 2011, when they first surfaced. The actor dismissed the claims as baseless and highly damaging. The attempt to introduce this sensational, unproven claim during the murder trial was widely seen as a desperate tactic to distract from the overwhelming evidence of Davenport’s guilt.

The family dynamic is complex: Hines’ grandmother, Jeanette Adair Bradshaw, was Freeman’s first wife (1967–1979). Hines’ mother, Deena Adair, was Bradshaw’s daughter from a previous relationship whom Freeman adopted, making Hines his adopted granddaughter, or step-granddaughter. Despite the complexities and the sensational media coverage, the family's public stance was one of unified grief and a commitment to seeing justice served for E’Dena Hines, a woman remembered by all who knew her as a bright light with an immense future ahead of her.