'It’s Been Exciting, It’s Been Beautiful': Glynn Simmons, Life After Exoneration

After spending nearly half a century locked up for a murder he did not commit, 70-year-old Glynn Simmons is now learning to live life outside prison walls.

Simmons and his attorneys held a press conference on Wednesday outside the Oklahoma County Courthouse to explain what is next in life now that Simmons is free.

Simmons said his fight for justice taught him resilience and tenacity. He wants to make an impact on the criminal justice system and help those he left behind when he left prison two months ago.

Simmons was convicted of murder and sentenced for the 1974 fatal shooting of an Edmond liquor store employee. He recently learned there would not be a re-trial and a judge on Tuesday dismissed the murder charge with prejudice.

“Validation and vindication is finally happening you know?,” said Glynn Simmons, exonerated of murder.

Simmons admitted there was doubt throughout his fight for freedom. 

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t,” said Simmons. “You can’t go through something like that and not have your doubts.”

The attorneys who believed in his innocence stood by him outside the Oklahoma County Courthouse. Simmons wants to do the same for others who do not have the same kind of support.

“I got a passion for criminal justice, justice reform and try to get into justice reform and rethinking how we do criminal justice,” said Simmons.

In the meantime, Simmons has reconnected with family.

“I met all my great grandkids and everything for the first time,” said Simmons. “So, it’s been exciting, it’s been beautiful.”

Simmons is slowly adjusting to life outside prison.

“He’s out and he’s free. That’s great but still a lot of challenges going on,” said Joe Norwood, attorney. “He’s got to have a way to pay for rent and food and clothes and so forth.”

Simmons has started a GoFundMe account to help pay for everyday living expenses.