February 20, 2009

Kezer's first free hours

Photos of how Joshua Kezer spent his first 19 hours out of prison.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Joshua C. Kezer's second stop after getting out of prison was the "The Walls" or the Old Jefferson City Correctional Center where he was incarcerated for 10 years. While visiting the center Kezer picked up some rocks for souvenirs. "These rocks used to hold me but now I hold them," Kezer said.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com After visiting the Cole County courthouse, Joshua C. Kezer's second stop after getting out of prison was the "The Walls" or the Old Jefferson City Correctional Center where he was incarcerated for 10 years. "I walked out of two prisons today," Kezer said.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Kezer's first meal as a free man was steak soup, steak and key lime pie at Lone Star Steakhouse in Columbia.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Kezer uses a cell phone for one of the first times in his life talking to his aunt at the Lone Star Steakhouse in Columbia.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Joshua Kezer says goodnight to his mother, Joan.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com While wearing new shoes, Kezer stands next to a John Grisham novel displayed at his mother's home.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com A crew from ABC News interviews Kezer at a friend's home in Columbia Wednesday night.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Kezer relaxes on the couch at the end of the day with Jane Williams.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Kezer watches himself on different news outlets on the 10:00 news at a friend's home in Columbia.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Before going to bed, Kezer checks out book selections.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Joshua Kezer answers media questions at the Jefferson City Correctional Center Wednesday.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Joshua Kezer rearranges pillows and sheets before sleeping in a real bed for the first time in 15 years. "I'll probably go into a coma," Kezer said.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Thursday morning Kezer eats a breakfast of french toast and bacon at Ernie's in Columbia with his friend Jane Williams.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Lit by television crews, Kezer talks about how he is feeling.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Attorneys who represented Kezer, Charles Weiss, left, and Steve Snodgrass of the Bryan Cave Law Firm say their congratulations before Kezer leaves as a free man.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Joshua C Kezer laughs after bowing to the media before getting in the car that was leading him away from Jefferson City Correctional Center a free man Wednesday.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Sheriff Rick Walter hugs Joshua Kezer before Kezer left Jefferson City Correctional Center after being incarcerated 15 years Wednesday. Walter was responsible for reopening the murder investigation shortly after he took office in 2006.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Joshua C. Kezer walks out of Jefferson City Correctional Facility with his mother, Joan, after being wrongfully incarcerated for over 14 years Wednesday.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Kezer's first stop after being freed was the Cole County Courthouse to thank the man that freed him, Judge Richard Callahan.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com After visiting Judge Callahan at the Cole County Courthouse, Joshua Kezer walks down the street in Jefferson City with Jane Williams whom Kezer calls his "other mom."

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Photos of how Joshua Kezer spent his first 19 hours out of prison.

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