The Untold Story Of Billy Bob Thornton's Daughter: From 20-Year Sentence To Wrongful Conviction Release

Few Hollywood families have a story as dramatic and complex as that of Billy Bob Thornton. While the Oscar-winning actor is known for his roles in Sling Blade and Fargo, his personal life, particularly his relationships with his six wives and four children, has often been a subject of intense public curiosity. As of December 18, 2025, the most compelling and current chapter revolves around his eldest daughter, Amanda Brooke Brumfield, whose life has been a tumultuous journey from a high-profile conviction to a successful fight for exoneration.

This article provides an in-depth look at all four of Billy Bob Thornton's children, with a primary focus on the shocking legal saga of Amanda Brumfield, detailing the recent updates on her case and her life after her release from prison. It's a story that highlights the intense scrutiny faced by the children of celebrities and the long, difficult road to justice.

Billy Bob Thornton's Four Children: A Complete Family Profile

Billy Bob Thornton is a father to four children from three of his six marriages. Each child has a unique story, career path, and level of public visibility. Understanding the full family dynamic is crucial to grasping the context of Amanda's life.

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• Amanda Brooke Brumfield
• Born: July 28, 1979
• Mother: Melissa Lee Gatlin (First Wife)
• Current Status: Exonerated and released from prison after a wrongful conviction.
• Known For: Her high-profile legal case involving the death of a child.
• William Langston "Will" Thornton
• Born: 1993
• Mother: Pietra Dawn Cherniak (Fourth Wife)
• Current Status: Maintains a low public profile, often works in the entertainment industry behind the scenes.
• Known For: Being the first son of Billy Bob and Pietra.
• Harry James Thornton
• Born: 1994
• Mother: Pietra Dawn Cherniak (Fourth Wife)
• Current Status: Has appeared on reality TV, specifically on the show Relatively Famous: Ranch Rules, and works as a property master in film and television.
• Known For: His reality TV appearance and career in the film industry, often discussing his relationship with his famous father.
• Bella (Ella) Thornton
• Born: 2002
• Mother: Connie Angland (Sixth Wife, current)
• Current Status: Recently left for college, as discussed by her father in recent interviews, making her the youngest and most protected child.
• Known For: Being the only child from Billy Bob's longest relationship with Connie Angland, and the subject of his "helicopter parent" comments.

The Shocking Legal Saga of Amanda Brumfield: Conviction to Exoneration

The story of Billy Bob Thornton's eldest daughter, Amanda Brooke Brumfield, stands as one of the most controversial and heartbreaking chapters in the family's history. Born from Thornton’s first marriage to Melissa Lee Gatlin, Amanda was largely estranged from her famous father for most of her adult life, a fact that became a major talking point during her legal ordeal.

The tragedy began in 2008 when Amanda was babysitting the one-year-old daughter of her best friend, Olivia Garcia, in Florida. Amanda claimed the child fell while trying to climb out of her crib, but medical evidence suggested a fatal head injury. In 2011, after a highly publicized trial, Amanda Brumfield was convicted of aggravated manslaughter of a child and was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in state prison.

For years, the public narrative was that of a celebrity's daughter serving a long sentence for a horrific crime. However, the legal battle did not end there. The case was taken up by the Innocence Project of Florida (IPF), a non-profit organization dedicated to freeing those wrongfully convicted.

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The Overturning of the Conviction and Release

The key to Amanda’s eventual freedom lay in advancements in forensic science. The IPF argued that the original conviction was based on "faulty forensic science evidence" regarding the nature of the child's head injury. This is a critical detail that changed the entire outcome of the case and provides the most current and unique information on her status.

After a rigorous legal review, the court acknowledged the issues with the initial evidence. Amanda Brumfield was ultimately released from prison on September 4, 2020, after serving nine years of her sentence, effectively being exonerated of the crime of aggravated manslaughter. While the initial news of her sentence was widely reported, the subsequent overturning and release based on a finding of wrongful conviction is the essential, updated context for her story today. The legal process continued to evolve, with some reports referencing final procedural updates as late as January 2025, solidifying her status as a wrongfully convicted individual who fought for and won her freedom.

The Lives of Billy Bob Thornton's Other Children

While Amanda's story is the most sensational, Billy Bob Thornton's three other children lead lives that are more typical for the offspring of a major Hollywood star, though they still navigate the complexities of their father's fame.

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Harry James Thornton: The Reality Star and Property Master

Harry James Thornton, one of Billy Bob's two sons with ex-wife Pietra Dawn Cherniak, has stepped into the public eye more than his siblings. He has pursued a career in the entertainment industry, not just as a property master working behind the camera, but also as a reality television personality. Harry appeared on the E! reality show Relatively Famous: Ranch Rules, where he was able to share glimpses of his personality and his unique family background. His public appearances often include candid discussions about his relationship with his father, providing insight into the private life of the famously reclusive actor.

Bella Thornton: The Youngest and Most Protected

Bella Thornton, born Ella in 2002, is the daughter of Billy Bob and his current wife, Connie Angland. Given her father's later-in-life perspective on fatherhood and his long-standing, stable relationship with Connie, Bella's upbringing has been notably different. In recent interviews, Billy Bob has openly discussed his role as a "helicopter parent" to Bella, a sentiment that reflects his protective nature and desire to be a fully engaged father later in life. Her recent departure for college marks a new chapter for the family, highlighting the fact that despite his eccentric public persona, Thornton is a deeply involved parent to his youngest daughter.

William Langston Thornton: The Private Son

William Langston Thornton, the other son from the marriage to Pietra Dawn Cherniak, maintains the lowest public profile of all the children. Like many children of A-list celebrities, William has chosen to pursue his life and career away from the constant glare of the media spotlight. His decision for privacy is respected, making him an entity often mentioned but rarely seen, in stark contrast to his half-sister Amanda's public ordeal and his brother Harry's reality TV appearances.

Topical Authority: Billy Bob Thornton's History of Fatherhood

The story of Billy Bob Thornton's children is inextricably linked to his tumultuous marital history. Having been married six times, his experience of fatherhood has spanned decades and multiple different family dynamics:

• Melissa Lee Gatlin: Produced his eldest daughter, Amanda Brumfield, during his first marriage (1978–1980). This early relationship was short-lived, contributing to Amanda's estrangement from her father.
• Pietra Dawn Cherniak: Produced his two sons, William and Harry, during his fourth marriage (1993–1997). This period established his role as a father to young boys during his rise to major stardom.
• Angelina Jolie: While famously married to Angelina Jolie (2000–2003), they did not have children together, though his public image was heavily defined by this relationship.
• Connie Angland: Produced his youngest daughter, Bella, during his longest and current partnership. Marrying in 2014 after a long relationship, this marriage represents a period of stability and a more mature approach to parenting for the actor.

The journey of Billy Bob Thornton's daughter, Amanda Brumfield, from a headline-making conviction to a quiet, hard-won release after being deemed wrongfully convicted, is the most profound and least understood part of the Thornton family narrative. It serves as a powerful reminder of the hidden, complex lives behind the Hollywood curtain and the enduring fight for justice.