Ex - death row convict John Thompson was re - entering prison after 18 years . Thompson was weeks from execution when new evidence led to his release . During Thompson 's retrial on murder charges , a jury declared him not guilty . ( CNN ) -- When former death row inmate John Thompson left a Louisiana prison in 2003 he was one of the lucky ones . Thompson founded a group to help former death row inmates .
Ex - death row convict John Thompson was re - entering prison after 18 years . Thompson was weeks from execution when new evidence led to his release . During Thompson 's retrial on murder charges , a jury declared him not guilty . Thompson founded a group to help former death row inmates .