Utah woman freed from prison after 17 years, declared "factually innocent"

(CBS/AP) DRAPER, Utah - In the pouring rain Monday, dozens of friends and family members of Debra Brown stood waiting outside prison gates, huddling under umbrellas -- some holding small children, others colorful balloons.

Shortly after 2:30 p.m., Brown, 53, walked out of Utah State Prison after 17 years, touching off an emotional reunion. She had maintained her innocence the whole time. Finally, a judge believed her and she was free to go.

"Maybe the weather doesn't look pretty to you guys, but it's the most beautiful day to me," Brown said later to reporters.

It got even better when the sun came out late afternoon and news filtered in that the Utah Attorney General's Office notified the defense it would not appeal a judge's ruling overturning her conviction.

Brown said she was grateful and called herself the "luckiest person on earth."

Brown was recently declared "factually innocent" in a 1993 murder, becoming the first inmate exonerated under a 2008 Utah law allowing judges to reconsider convictions based on new factual -- not scientific -- evidence.

The court, in addition to expunging Brown's criminal record, on Monday ordered her to receive financial restitution provided by the 2008 law. She is to receive about $570,000, with an initial payment of about $114,000.

Brown didn't pedal a powder-blue bicycle out of prison as she envisioned in a dream three years ago. But the bike she imagined was waiting there in the parking lot -- a stuffed Chihuahua in the plastic white basket and a paper "red carpet" rolled out beneath its tires.

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May 9, 2011 - Woman to be released after 17 years behind bars for Utah murder