Alfred Dwayne Brown Released From Death Row To Family After 12 Years

Alfred Dwanyne Brown, a husband and a father, was released from death row on Monday to his elated family after 12 long years apart.

Brown was convicted and sentenced to death in 2005 for the shooting death of a police officer and clerk at a check-cashing store in 2003.

While Brown always maintained his innocence, it wasn’t until November of 2014 that the police found substantial evidence that supported the alibi he had given. On Monday, June 8, Brown was granted his freedom by District Attorney Devon Anderson after he dismissed the case for lack of evidence.

“We re-interviewed all the witnesses. We looked at all the evidence and we’re coming up short,” Anderson told reporters, according to Chron.com. “We cannot prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt, therefore the law demands that I dismiss this case and release Mr. Brown.”

“We all cried,” Brown’s attorney Katherine Scardino told Yahoo Parenting as her client walked out of the doors to the Harris County Jail.

Brown’s entire family, including his 14-year-old daughter, was there to embrace him as he made his way out of the building.

“His daughter was a baby when he went in and this was the first time he’d actually touched her, or hugged anybody for that matter, in more than 12 years,” Scardino said. “Everywhere he went in prison, they handcuffed him.”

Brown still maintains that he had nothing to do with the murders, even though he knows many of the officers still feel that he is guilty.

“They did what they felt like was right, even though it was wrong,” Brown said of prosecutors. “I went there as an innocent man and I came out as an innocent man … It was a long wait but it was worth the wait.”

“Everything happens for a reason but I’m good. My family alright. If they’re alright, I’m alright,” Alfred said, according to ABC 13.

“His sister let out a big happy whoop,” Scardino said. “They started hugging and Alfred grabbed for his daughter. They all stayed right next to him entire time he was outside.”

After being released, Brown and his family went out to dinner together, and then went to a family member’s home, where they were catching up on what had happened over the past 12 years.

“There’s lots to catch up on,” Scardino said. “Smartphones, even flat-screen TVs — there are so many things now that weren’t available 10, 12 years ago.”

[Photo via YouTube screenshot]