Tulsa Men Celebrate Freedom After Case Finally Closes

Two Tulsa men are celebrating their freedom now that their case is finally closed.

That's after they spent more than two decades in prison for a murder they did not commit.

De'Marchoe Carpenter and Malcolm Scott were just teenagers when they were arrested and taken to the Tulsa County jail; they went on to spend 22 years in prison.

Thursday, a court exonerated the two men completely.

Scott: "There's no more question anymore. We are free, completely."
Carpenter: "We're innocent."
Scott: "We're innocent. And they know it now. Not only do we know it, but the world knows it now."

It's the final step in Carpenter and Scott's journeys to freedom.

Six months ago, a judge released them from prison after 22 years of incarceration. The state filed an appeal to put them back behind bars and lost.

5/10/2016 Related Story: Tulsa Men Released After 20+ Years In Prison Enjoy New Freedom

Scott said, "I mean, hey, you get your life back after 22 years, if that isn't reason enough to cry in happiness, then I don't know what is."

In 1994, police arrested the men, only 17 at the time, for the drive-by shooting of 19-year-old Karen Summers, but there was no physical evidence linking them to her murder.

Another death row inmate eventually confessed to killing her, clearing Carpenter and Scott.

Five Oklahoma judges ruled the state's case against them was too weak. They denied the state's appeal to re-convict the men.

"We can breathe now. So, that's what's good, man," Scott said.

It means the men can follow their dreams without a felony record.

For Carpenter, that's speaking to young people, getting them on the right path.

"I've been shot with an AK, I know what you're all going through. You're livin' that gang life, that's not the life, man," he said.

And for Scott, it means finishing his degree to become an athletic trainer.

No bitterness from either of them - only looking forward.

"If you carry yourself in a positive light and live that positive life for yourself, positiveness will come to you," Scott said.

Both men say they're looking forward to being able to travel, and, they're hoping to go to their first Thunder game this season.