DNA Evidence Frees an Innocent Man

DNA sets a man free who's been in prison for nearly 14 years. Arvin McGee's family says their prayers have been answered.<br><br>News on Six crime reporter Lori Fullbright was inside the courtroom

Tuesday, February 26th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DNA sets a man free who's been in prison for nearly 14 years. Arvin McGee's family says their prayers have been answered.

News on Six crime reporter Lori Fullbright was inside the courtroom for the judge's decision.

Arvin McGee has 10 brothers and sisters and untold number of nieces and nephews. Many of them were in court today.

McGee's family formed a circle and said a prayer of thanks as soon as they left the courtoom.

Prosecutor Tim Harris told the family he was sorry he believes justice has now been done.

A second set of DNA tests came back today showing McGee did not kidnapp and rape a Tulsa woman back in 1987. The family says this has been a 14 year long nightmare.

Mary McGee, Arvin's Mother: "Hell. Hell and back. He's missed so much, he's missed my birthdays. I'm 60 years old now and I was a young woman when he went in."

McGee will likely be released tonight around seven o'clock and his family will be there.

They say he's requested a dinner of turkey and dressing and cake and they'll have it at a big family celebration Friday night.

The rape victim still lives in Tulsa and prosecutors say she's devastated tonight - on a couple of levels.

First, that the person who attacked her has been out there all these years and second, that she helped put away an innocent man. But, they say in her heart of hearts, she believed her identification was right.