Tulsa Woman Freed By DNA Evidence Finds Solace With Church Family

A church community has welcomed back a mother who spent 20 years behind bars after being found innocent earlier this year.

A Tulsa County Judge exonerated Michelle Murphy after new DNA evidence was revealed in connection with the death of her 3-month-old son.

Michelle Murphy walked out of a courtroom a free woman two months ago. Now she's walking into her church and starting a new chapter in her life.

“They've opened their homes, their hearts, their everything to me and they've accepted me and they've been there, they've given me the encouragement and everything that I need to make it through each day," Murphy said about All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa.

She was sentenced to a life for the death of her infant son, but 20 years later, her conviction was overturned when new DNA evidence in the case emerged casting doubt on the evidence presented at her original trial.

9/12/2014 Related Story: Tulsa Mother Found Innocent Of Infant's Death After 20 Years In Prison

"Michelle we welcome you into our hearts,” All Souls Rev. Marlin Lavanhar said. “Michelle we welcome you into our homes. We welcome you into our community, into our lives with open arms... and we beg your forgiveness.”

Now Murphy's church family is starting that healing process. Murphy even changed her name during today's service.

“My name has been tainted. My reputation under that name has been ruined," she said.

Murphy says she's trying to surround herself around positive people. She's learning how to drive and started working as a landscaper.

Lavanhar said her church community is embracing her with love and reminding everyone she's an innocent and good member of society.

“She lost everything,” he said. “She lost her freedom. She lost her family. She lost her reputation, right at the time she lost her child. How somebody endures that and stays in prison for 20 years and keeps hope alive is amazing and she is a real inspiration."

Murphy said “just stay strong, always, never give up always know there's hope at the end."

Murphy's attorneys said they're planning a lawsuit against outgoing Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris and are preparing for a contempt hearing scheduled in about a week.