JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — When Joshua C. Kezer left Jefferson City Correctional Center a free man this afternoon, the first stop he wanted to make was the Cole County Courthouse.

He wanted to thank the man who freed him from the murder conviction that's kept him behind bars for nearly the past 15 years.

On Tuesday Cole County Judge Richard G. Callahan granted a motion releasing Kezer on the grounds that the court found clear and convincing evidence he had not committed the 1992 murder of Angela Mischelle Lawless near Benton, Mo.

On Wednesday morning, Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Boyd submitted notice he would not be seeking prosecution against Kezer in the case, authorizing his release. Kezer, 34, walked out of prison in Jefferson City around 3 p.m. today to a crush of camera people and reporters.

"I've never been through anything like this before," he said. "It's crazy, insane, sudden," he said.

Before leaving Jefferson city for his new home in Columbia, Mo., Kezer asked his friend Scott Williams, who was driving, to stop at the courthouse.

More than 60 days ago, Kezer had been led into the courthouse in orange jumpsuit and shackles, now he walked in a free man, dressed in brand-new clothing supplied by Jane Williams, whom he calls his "other mom," the woman partially responsible for getting Kezer's case back in the courts.

He quietly asked a courthouse employee if Callahan was available, introducing himself.

"I'm Joshua Kezer. He set me free yesterday, and I'd like to thank him," Kezer said.

Calllahan agreed to speak with Kezer in his office, and Kezer said the judge offered him advice about pursuing school.

Kezer said he shook Callahan's hand, and said thank you.

"I told him when I sat in that courtroom, I'd had no reason to believe he was going to treat me any different than others have in the past," he said.

As Kezer was leaving the courthouse, Angela Allmon, of Jefferson City, told him she'd seen his story on the news, and was amazed to see him out of prison.

She congradualted him on the decision.

"Have a great life," she told him as they shook hands.