Additional Coverage:
Wrongfully Convicted Man Exonerated After 24 Years
Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez has finally been cleared of a murder he did not commit after spending over two decades behind bars.
Velazquez was exonerated on Monday by a Manhattan judge for the 1998 killing of a retired New York City police officer. His release comes after years of relentless efforts by NBC News producer Dan Slepian, who has been investigating the case since 1999.
Velazquez expressed his gratitude to those who believed in his innocence, including Slepian and NBC News anchor Lester Holt, who spoke with him shortly after his exoneration.