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Death row inmate released after nearly 18 years behind bars

RAIFORD, Florida (AP) -- A man who spent nearly 18 years on death row for a slaying he didn't commit walked out of prison and began the task of putting his life back together after prosecutors dropped a bid to go ahead with a new trial.

"They can give me a billion dollars and they cannot pay for what they did to me," Juan Melendez said Thursday, carrying $100 that the state provided after his release and sporting a new jacket purchased by his legal team. "The only way they can compensate me is to give me my 18 years back."

Melendez was convicted on witness testimony for the 1983 killing of cosmetology school owner Delbert Baker, even though there was no physical evidence linking Melendez to the slaying.

During his years in prison, he lost several rounds of appeals and had his death sentence upheld by the Florida Supreme Court before the transcript of the other man's confession to the slaying was discovered in 1999.

Polk County prosecutors announced Thursday they would not go ahead with a court-ordered retrial because they no longer had enough evidence. One of the only two witnesses against Melendez has recanted and the other is now dead, said Chip Thullbery, administrative assistant state attorney.

"That leaves us, frankly, with nothing to proceed on," Thullbery said.

Defense attorneys said the true killer, a now-deceased man named Vernon James, confessed to at least four investigators or attorneys, but none of those admissions was allowed in court.

"I'm happy to finally have it over and to have Juan released," said attorney Marty McClain, who pursued his appeal. "But it really is a sad day that the system allowed this to happen and for it to go on so long."

Melendez said he planned to return to his native Puerto Rico and live with his 73-year-old mother. He said he has not decided whether he will sue.

Melendez is the 99th U.S. death row inmate freed after being cleared by new evidence, said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington.

"I want to tell you, I feel good!" said Melendez, with a broad smile. "Without hope, I probably would have committed suicide."

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