JARRATT -- Thomas E. Haynesworth was released from prison today, his 46th birthday, after 27 years in custody for crimes authorities now believe he did not commit.
Dressed in a khaki shirt and trousers, Haynesworth walked out of the prison with a television set and a plastic bag full of boxes about 11:20 a.m.
As he walked to his lawyers, prison officials asked him to leave the grounds. He departed in his lawyer's car followed by an SUV with about a half-dozen family members including his mother, Delores Haynesworth.
Just off the prison grounds, the two vehicles stopped by the side of the road that leads to U.S. 301 for Haynesworth to be reunited in a hug with his mother and family.
"This is my best birthday. Nothing can compare to this," Haynesworth said in an impromptu roadside news conference attended by reporters and photographers who followed him from the prison grounds.
"Its been a long journey," Haynesworth. "We're just taking it one day at a time."
Added his mother, "It's still hard to believe. He's right here and I'm holding him but it's still hard to believe."
His sister, Sandra Haynesworth, said, "We got a whole lot of catching up to do."
Haynesworth said he grateful to his family and to Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Herring, Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Wade Kizer and Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli for supporting him.
Shawn Armbrust of the Mid Atlantic Innocence Project said the final step for Haynesworth will be exoneration by the Virginia Court of Appeals or a pardon from the governor. Meanwhile, Haynesworth must register as a sex offender and may not be able to meet some of his nieces and nephews.
Haynesworth, who was arrested walking to the store to pick up groceries for his mother on Feb. 5, 1984, said he may finally make a trip to the store "to pick up that bread and sweet potatoes."
Before he was released, Haynesworth said in an interview at a prison office that he was "pretty excited... joyful" as he awaited his family members to pick him up and take him home to Richmond.
"I'm glad my mother is alive, that she can see this," Haynesworth said.
Haynesworth was locked up when he was 18 in a string of 1984 rapes and other attacks on women. DNA has exonerated Haynesworth in two attacks and implicated rapist Leon W. Davis.
Haynesworth and his lawyers are seeking his exoneration in two other attacks in a case now before the Virginia Court of Appeals. The bid has been supported by prosecutors and defense lawyers.
A hearing has been set for March 30 and Haynesworth said today he wants to attend.
Haynesworth said he feels no animosity toward the women who identified him as their attacker. "They're victims, too," he said, adding: "It was Leon Davis" who who committed the crimes.
But, added Haynesworth, "I'm not going to waste my time being hateful."
In a surprise move last week, Haynesworth was granted parole and conditional release after Gov. Bob McDonnell asked the state Parole Board top reconsider his case. He was most recently rejected for parole last June.
Asked if he ever thought he would see a day like today, Haynesworth said, "I always felt something would come through."
He said his fellow inmates at Greensville have been very supportive and treated him like a brother.
"They made me a nice birthday card today," he said.
He said more than a dozen correctional officers came by his cell last night to congratulate him.
(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available.)
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