TOLEDO, Ohio (WTOL) - Willie Knighten Jr., convicted for a 1996 murder in Lucas County, will be released from prison Tuesday after Governor Strickland approved clemency for him.
Knighten maintained his innocence for the whole 12 years he spent in prison.
The governor's decision was based in large part on a letter written by Judge William Skow before he died. Skow said he made a mistake convicting Knighten.
Laverne Knighten, Willie's mother, says she will be at the prison first thing Tuesday morning to take her son home for Thanksgiving.
"I never harbored any bad feelings about Judge Skow because he never gave up on my son, and I never gave up on Judge Skow. I'm thankful he did this before he passed away," said Laverne Knighten.
