The Life and Shocking Murder of the Yale Graduate Who Spent His Life Trying to Exonerate His Father

Chiwetel Ejiofor brought Rob Peace’s story to life in the 2024 film starring Jay Will, Mary J. Blige and Camila Cabello.

Rob Peace was murdered in 2011, but his tragic death and life beyond borders continue to be investigated. Chiwetel Ejiofor2024 biographical movie, Rob Peace.

based on New York Times Bestselling book by Jeff Hobbs The Brief and Tragic Life of Robert Peace, The film follows a bright young man, played by Jay Will, as he tries to balance his promising academic future with the responsibility he feels to free his imprisoned father, Robert “Skeet” Douglas (Ejiofor). Mary J. Blige she also plays Rob’s mother, Jackie Peace, in the biographical drama and Camila Cabello She plays his girlfriend, Naya Vazquez.

Rob Peace The film, which premiered in August 2024 and was added to Netflix on November 11, quickly rose to become one of the platform’s Top 10 films. Ejiofor, who directed and wrote the film, said: ForbesHe said in August that he wanted to “go beyond the judgment” that had clouded Rob’s story and “understand the systemic challenges” he faced.

To do this, the actor worked closely with the real Jackie.

“He has a wonderful, cheerful, friendly spirit, and it was truly a pleasure to engage with him on his son’s story,” Ejiofor said. “Rob was someone who felt his familial responsibilities and his love of community, family and friends. Under any other circumstances, he would have made it in the world.

So who was the real Rob Peace? Here’s everything you need to know about his true story Rob Peace.

Who was Rob Peace?

Accordingly TodayRobert DeShaun Peace (who goes by Rob Peace) was born in 1980 in East Orange, NJ to parents Jackie and Skeet. They separated and Rob lived with his mother. Hobbs, Rob’s college roommate and later biographer, said: NPR In 2014, Jackie learned that her son was intellectually gifted from an early age.

“When he was about 3 years old at daycare, the lady there told Jackie they called him ‘professor,'” Hobbs said. “And he thought they were making fun of him, or worse, making fun of his son, and then he realized they were addressing him so seriously because of his intelligence and curiosity.”

While Jackie worked multiple jobs to support Rob, Skeet was also active in her son’s life, especially his academic pursuits. Hobbs told NPR that Skeet taught his son the importance of good pencil use and memory, even while in prison.

What did Rob Peace’s father go to prison for?

Accordingly NJ.comSkeet was convicted of murder in the 1987 shooting deaths of Charlene Moore and Estella Moore. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment.

Rob, who was 7 when his father was arrested, visited Skeet in prison every weekend until he was 18. Skeet also called his son’s home regularly to check on his academics.

“(Skeet) would call home every day to make sure he was doing his homework,” said Dante Peace, Rob’s uncle. NJ.com In July 2024. “So I think he also has a higher level of intelligence that feeds into (Rob).”

Skeet maintained his innocence throughout his life and asked his son to help exonerate him. Rob worked for years to overturn his father’s conviction due to the lack of a speedy trial, and at one point was successful and temporarily released his father. But the appeal landed Skeet back in jail.

Did Rob Peace graduate from Yale?

St. in Newark, NJ. After graduating from Benedict Preparatory School, Rob’s future was so bright and promising that a bank manager he met at a banquet gave him a blank check to cover all his college expenses.

He attended Yale University where he studied molecular biophysics and biochemistry. Rob also began selling marijuana from his dorm room to fund his father’s exoneration efforts and legal representation, allegedly saving up to $100,000.

Rob graduated from Yale in 2002 and attended St. Louis until 2007. He returned home to teach biology at Benedict’s. He also worked in the baggage handling department at Newark International Airport. Jackie told NJ.com that her son, whom she named Shaun, was “ahead of his time” and was told he was overqualified for many jobs.

“It actually shows that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, your color or anything else, you can still achieve things,” Jackie told a local media outlet. “If you have something in mind to do, you should be able to try to do it. That’s what Shaun was trying to do.”

What happened to Rob Peace’s father, Skeet?

While incarcerated, Skeet was diagnosed with brain cancer. He died in prison in 2006.

Hobbs, who lived with Rob during their years at Yale, told NJ.com that he didn’t know much about his roommate’s life outside of school and “didn’t volunteer” many details about his father.

“Rob had a way of making you very uncomfortable when you asked him about something he didn’t want to talk about,” Hobbs said. “I’m not sure he’d be excited about a book being written about him. Actually, I think he would have been very angry with me.”

Hobbs added: “But I also think that he was a teacher and he cared about his friends and his community and his friends’ children, and if he could maybe see how his story compelled a lot of young people to share theirs, I think he would be quite pleased with that.

What happened to Rob Peace?

At some point in his 20s, Rob started selling marijuana again. He was shot to death at a grow house in Newark, NJ, in May 2011. Police found cash and marijuana at the scene, but the attacker was never identified. Rob was 30 years old.

Hobbs told NPR that more than 400 people attended his college roommate’s funeral.

“(The funeral) was very painful, but also beautiful – there were people from all over the world in downtown Newark,” the author said. “But outside of that church, it seemed like a lot of people were almost enthusiastically condemning him because that cliché of potential was squandered… We knew Rob Peace wasn’t a cliché.”

How accurate is the movie? Rob Peace?

Ejiofor told Today “Basic bones” of the movie Rob Peace He added that it reflects Rob’s true story, but that there are some details in the movie that are not included in the book.

“Inevitably, there are some moments where you just kind of have to create things that no one is ready for, some moments where you give it your best shot.” 12 Years a Slave said the actor. “I think that’s part of the process in any adaptation or any story based on true events.”

According to NJ.com, the film uses some of Rob’s own writings as rough drafts for graduate school applications. Jackie saw the film at its Sundance Film Festival premiere in January 2024 and said Will did an “excellent job” portraying her son and that Blige represented him well.

“We would know it was me, especially when he got that attitude,” Jackie told NJ.com. “As he was talking with that attitude, I said, ‘Damn, he got me right there.’ ”