---
title: A ‘Challenge’ to the System
date: 2024-05-02T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/a-challenge-to-the-system"
section: Articles
---
# A ‘Challenge’ to the System

*May 2, 2024* — by [Sala Levin ’10](/author/sala-levin-10)


> In Alumna’s New Book, Murder and For-Profit Prison Industry Converge

*Getty Images 640472385 1920x1080 — Prisoners at New York’s Auburn State Prison (depicted in c.1840 illustration) were forced to manufacture goods for private profit. In a new book, “Freeman's Challenge,” Robin Bernstein M.A. ’95 (below) tells the story of William Freeman, who served five years in the prison and whose search for payment for his work there ultimately led to violence.*

On March 12, 1846, after darkness had descended on the Finger Lakes region of New York, William Freeman knocked on the door of a house that belonged to farmer and justice of the peace John Van Nest. Recently released from nearby Auburn State Prison, Freeman had met Van Nest just 10 days before, when he’d stopped by the farm seeking work and been rebuffed. Tonight, Freeman was there for a different purpose.

Nearly as soon as Van Nest opened the door, Freeman stabbed him through the heart, killing him instantly. Then, Freeman stepped inside and fatally wounded Van Nest’s pregnant wife, Sarah, the couple’s almost 2-year-old son and Sarah’s mother.


*“Freeman’s Challenge: The Murder That Shook America’s Original Prison for Profit” book cover*


*Robin Bernstein M.A. ’95 portrait*



**Sidebar note:**

Robin Bernstein will be [discussing “Freeman’s Challenge”](https://www.politics-prose.com/robin-bernstein) at Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C., on May 5.





**Topics:** [People](https://today.umd.edu/tags/people)


**Tags:** [Alumni](https://today.umd.edu/topic/alumni), [Books](https://today.umd.edu/topic/books)


**Units:** [College of Arts and Humanities](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-arts-and-humanities)