yeah. now the snitch on snitch story had the appeals judge s attention. the judge had to make a determination that the result of the trial would probably have been different. because mullens story was that important in getting the conviction? right. the judge vacated rick s conviction saying the new county solicitor, the one who had replaced humphries, could refile charges if he wanted. the solicitor said he did not. so in 2013, after eight years inside, rick gagnon walked out of prison. he settled on the carolina coast now, married with children. just the smell of the ocean, you know, it s like freedom. it s a terrible thing that i went to prison for something i didn t do. it s changed my life. his old girlfriend believes her life was up-ended, too. bambi says she s cut ties with most of the people she grew up with. the tobacco fields she still
his tiny fingerprints still on file in state records. we are asking for an apology from the state of south carolina for actually putting a child to death, a barbaric practice. his research drew the attention of attorney steven ma kenzy. he believes the confession was coerced and has agreed to help clear his name. had he been tried today, this case would never have seen a jury. a judge would have thrown this case out. reporter: the decision on reopening an investigation rests with county solicitor, earnest chip finney who worries there s not enough evidence now to prove stinney s guilt or innocence. i would need to have something in order to move the case back to court, something more than just the emotion in the community about it. reporter: many in that community are convinced stinney s trial itself was a travesty of justice, a horrible stain on american history. mark potter, nbc news, manning, south carolina. it s an amazing look back at history. we first reported on