Lawrence McKinney and his attorneys spoke to the media after he became the first person in Tennessee to receive the maximum amount of reparation funds.
In 2009, DNA testing proved McKinney's innocence, but his fight for justice was long from being over. In 2016, a parole board unanimously voted not to recommend McKinney be exonerated.
In 2017, Governor Bill Haslam went against the parole boards vote and exonerated McKinney, meaning he and his legal team were able to ask the state for compensation of up to $1 million.
Even though it took nine years for him to finally be exonerated by the Governor, McKinney said he won't focus on that.
"People got to understand when you become a new Christian you leave the past behind," said McKinney.
For McKinney and his wife, it's now about the future. He spends his time working, devoted to his church and volunteering to help others.
As for money, it means they're more financially secure.
"It's vindication for all that he went through," said attorney David Raybin, who along with Jack Lowery, have been on McKinney's case since he walked from behind bars.
"When he was released from prison, they gave him a change of clothes and $75 and sent him on his way," said Raybin.
Now, McKinney will receive a little more than $600,000. He never worked enough to pay much into social security. So, the 61-year-old decided to put the money into an annuity. He'll receive about $3,200 a month now for the rest of his life.
What about the other third of that million dollars? It goes to pay his lawyers.
Many have wondered couldn't the state have paid for McKinney's legal fees? The answer is no. Under state law the cap for compensation is one million dollars.
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Lawrence McKinney Gets $1 Million In Reparation Funds
