Colorado man released after DNA points to alternate suspect

Tim Masters, who served nine years in a Colorado prison for a murder he has always maintained he didn't commit, was released from prison today after a judge approved a motion from prosecutors to vacate his conviction. Prosecutors have said that new DNA results from the crime scene point to an alternate suspect. The Denver Post reported that the DNA evidence points to an ex-boyfriend of the victim, and prosecutors have said they are investigating the alternate suspect.

Masters was 15 at the time of the crime but convicted 12 years later, based partly on a psychological evaluation of violent drawings he made in high school.

Cheers and applause erupted as Masters walked out of court with his attorneys, David Wymore and Maria Liu.

…"They did a fantastic job," Masters said of his lawyers at a hastily convened news conference.

"I want to go see my family," he stated.

Wymore said he would "urge the prosecutors to dismiss all charges as soon as possible." He added, "It's an opportunity to do the right thing."

Read the full story here and watch video footage of the court hearing. (CNN, 01/22/08)

The Innocence Project has been working for several months with Colorado law enforcement officials and legislators to ensure that biological evidence in the state is preserved for possible future testing. In Masters' case, his release today is thanks in part to the retention of evidence in his case.

Read more about the Innocence Project's evidence preservation work in Colorado.

More media coverage of Masters' case:

Denver Post:

Release likely today as missteps surface