A man walked free from prison after 21 years, cleared of a murder he never committed – more than 10 years after another man began confessing to the killing in an attempt to clear his own conscience.
John Miller, 44, was declared innocent July 1 and left the State Correctional institution about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia on Wednesday, reported CNN.
“I’m very happy and excited that after 21 years I’m finally being heard and that my innocence has reached the surface,” Miller said in a statement obtained by CNN via his attorney. “I’m going home to my family. I’m overwhelmed, excited and happy.”
The actual murderer, David Williams, had begun suffering a crisis in conscience even before Miller’s first hearing back when he was arrested for the 1996 crime, and had been declaring his own culpability for more than 10 years.
