From Pittsburgh to Purpose: The Making of Skinny Champ Skrilla
Born Craig Hairston on Pittsburgh’s North Side, Skinny Champ Skrilla came of age in the Allegheny Commons and Sandusky Court projects, the oldest of five children raised by a single mother. Life pushed him to grow up fast. At 13, he started hustling to help support his family. By 16, he was living on his own, balancing full-time work and survival in a city riddled with violence.
Against all odds, he graduated high school at 17 and began college at St. Augustine in North Carolina.
But at 22, Skinny Champ’s life was derailed. Convicted under Pennsylvania’s controversial Felony Murder Rule for a crime he did not commit, he was sentenced to life in prison—despite evidence later proving his innocence.
Resilience Behind the Walls
Where others might have been broken, Skinny Champ was built. Over more than two decades of incarceration, he became a certified life coach, a mentor, and a service dog trainer for people in need. He served as the editor of The Light, a prison newsletter, and sat on the executive board of the Greene Lifer's Organization.
Even while behind bars, he pursued higher education and maintained a 3.8 GPA at West Virginia University.
But above all, he never stopped creating. As a lyricist, poet, and visionary, Skinny Champ found his voice through art and truth. His creativity became his resistance—and his therapy.
A Voice for Justice, A Vision for Change
Skinny Champ’s story isn’t just about wrongful conviction. It’s about transformation, impact, and the courage to rise. Though cleared in a 2009 hearing by the actual perpetrator’s confession, he remains imprisoned—trapped in a system riddled with corruption and racial bias. Yet, he stays grounded in integrity. For years, he remained silent out of respect for the pain experienced by victims and their families. Today, he speaks not just for himself—but for countless others silenced by injustice.
“I used to look at life through the lens of ‘What can I get from the world?’ Now my mentality is, ‘What can I give back to it?’” – Skinny Champ Skrilla
If you believe in second chances, if you believe in truth, resilience, and the power of art to heal—this is your moment. Stand with Skinny Champ. Share his story. Be part of the movement.
