Christopher “CJ” Precopia’s life turned into a nightmare when he was falsely accused of a brutal attack by his ex-girlfriend. Facing a possible 99-year prison sentence, his fate changed due to a simple selfie taken by his mother.

On September 22, 2017, CJ was arrested at work in Georgetown, Texas, unaware of the accusations against him. His ex-girlfriend, Faith Cox, claimed he broke into her home two days earlier, assaulted her, and used a box cutter to carve an “X” into her chest. Police noted injuries consistent with her claims, leading to CJ’s arrest despite no physical evidence.

Terrified, CJ was released on a $150,000 bond while his family fought to prove his innocence. The breakthrough came in the form of a photo taken by his mother at 7:02 p.m. on the alleged night of the attack—just 18 minutes before the crime. The selfie placed CJ 70 miles away, providing irrefutable proof of his alibi.

Nine months later, prosecutors dismissed the charges, and in December 2018, Cox was charged with filing a false report. CJ later reflected, “It’s a struggle knowing your life can be ruined by a lie.”