Michael Rhynes is a free man after serving 37 years in prison for a double murder in a case with insufficient evidence to retry him.
The murders happened at a Rochester bar in 1984. Two men who testified in the 1986 trial admitted to lying to reduce their sentences. They said Rhynes attempted to rob the bar, which led to him shooting and killing Enrico Ferrari and Robert Hurysz. Now, nearly four decades later, prosecutors have dismissed and sealed the case due to insufficient evidence to retry him.
Outside the courtroom Monday, Rhynes said he was going to "take a deep breath" now that he has his life back.
“I’m happy that it happened now. It should’ve never happened in the first place, but it is what it is. We get a second chance. He gets to live his life," his daughter said.