this is "nightline." tonight, he spent over 30 years on death row but he wasn't guilty. now exonerated. glenn ford is a free man. coming face to face with the prosecutor who put him behind bars and we're there. stranger spring break. a trip to miami complete with romantic walks on the beach. he's paying for everything. but this sant couple. they never met before pairing up through an on-line arrangement. would you go on a lavish vacation with someone you barely new. and the anti-country star. all of life's a house party for the hottest breakout in country music. if you don't think he looks the part there's a reason if for

that. sam hunt reveals a secret he kept for years and how he is putting his own spin on things. but first the "nightline" five. the savings are huge at the jcpenney anniversary sale. extra $10 off when you spent $25 or more with a coupon. stock up on buy one get one free shorts and tees for the whole family. jcpenney. when it fits, you feel it. zantac heartburn alert. nex yum can take 24 hours to work. zantac rushes relief in as little as 30 minutes for relief without the wait. try zantac. no pill relieves heart burn

thank you for joining us. in your lifetime what's been harder asking forgiveness or

granting it? you are about to meet two men facing that dilemma under the darkest of circumstances. one spent 30 years on death row for a crime he did not commit. the other man feels responsible for putting him there. for our new series "face to face" my "nightline" coanchor dan harris is there for their heart wrenching reunion. >> you are watching a man take his first steps outside of prison in 30 years. in his hands an envelope contain ing a state-issued debit card. prison officials gave him $20 and the 24 cents left in his inmate account. >> my sons when i left are babies. now they are grown men. >> reporter: when glenn ford walked out of prison in march, he was the longest serving death row exxon rhee in america. >> i was looked up almost 30 years for something i didn't do. >> reporter: new evidence had come to life vacating his

conviction for first-degree murder. this is the man responsible for put ing glenn ford behind bars marty stroud who prosecuted the case three decades ago. >> what kind of guy were you back then? >> docky, arrogant. >> reporter: now in a surprising twist, this former prosecutor is making an extraordinary public apology. he wrote a headline-making letter to the editor in which he said he was not as interested in justice as i was in winning. i apologize to glenn ford for all of the misery i have caused him and his family. on a recent thursday night, we accompanied marty stroud on his way to confront what maybe his greatest shame. >> what do you expect out of this? >> i have no idea. deeply sorry for what happened. >> reporter: he was on his way to meet the innocent man he put on death row. this time to apologize in person. both men had agreed to this meeting, but neither knew how it

would go as they prepared to come face to face for the first time in 30 years. >> mr. ford. >> reporter: their paths first crossed in 1983 when isadore rosemund a watch dealer in louisiana was found shot in the head inside of his home repair shot. within days, police zeroed in on ford who had done yafrd work for the victim. after a seven-day trial, even though there was no eyewitness or murder weapon, the jury came back with a guilty verdict and a death sentence. >> you were pleased when that verdict came down. >> i was very pleased. >> you went out and celebrated with drinks. >> i did that. >> reporter: now marty admits it was not a fair fight. >> the deck was stacked going in. >> reporter: ford's court-appointed defense team had almost no experience and no resources and stroud reluctantly admits he further stacked the deck against ford by ensuring the jury was all white. >> looking back on it i was not

as sensitive to the issue of race as a i am now. >> reporter: ford's out-matched defense team was also never told about confidential informants who had pointed the finger at two other suspects. the brothers henry and jake robinson. ford had told police he was given some items to pawn by the brothers. he said he only later learned the items had been taken from the victim's home. while ford was sent to death row in louisiana's hellish angola prison, the brothers remained free. according to authorities maybe responsible for five other homicides. ford would still be on death row today if not for a new confidential informant who told police that jake robinson confessed to him that he killed isadore roz monday. both are in jail charged with other crimes. neither is charged with rosmund's murder.

>> reporter: in louisiana exonorees are else available for $330,000 in compensation payment but when he applied if the money the judge denied his request. saying he is not innocent was because he may have known about the shooting beforehand a claim he denies. when marty heard about the state's refusal to compensate ford is when he sat down and wrote his extraordinary letter to the editor saying ford deserves every penny owed to him. >> my personal belief is he should be compensated. the cap on damages of $330,000 is a joke. >> reporter: ford needs that restitution money now more than ever. just months after he got out, he was given a different kind of death sentence, stage four lung cancer. he currently survives on donations and is cared for by a staff of volunteers. when we spoke to ford on the afternoon before his meeting

with stroud, he was so wiped out he could hardly open his eyes. >> what was your reaction when marty stroud wrote that letter apologizing to you and your family? >> i couldn't believe sglit 30 years is a long time to be in a prison for a crime that you didn't do and anger isn't the emotion. >> anger -- i'm upset, yes but it is not my driving force. >> what is your driving force? >> to get as well as i possibly can and i can't do that being mad at marty stroud. >> reporter: this attitude is apparently not unusual among exonorees. on some level if they let it in the anger could drown him. what do you think the lesson is? >> forgiveness, i it's hard. >> reporter: on the night of the

meeting we picked up marty stroud at the airport in new orleans and walked him to glenn's front door. mr. ford. >> how are you doing? >> how are you doing? >> doing all right. >> i thought about this for a long, long time. i want you to know that i am very sorry. i wish -- it's a stain on me that will be with me until i to my grave. i wasn't a very good person at all. i apologize for that. >> all right. but that still caused me 31 years of my life and nothing at the end but death. because given me from six to eight months to live. >> there's nothing to say sufficient to give you those 30 years back. but i have to tell you i've learned a lot about myself and

the next 30 years, even though this is the same person our same body i'd like to think i have changed. i learned a lot from you. >> you did? >> i have learned watching you on television. i was thinking man, if it had been me in there for 30 years i would be angry. >> marty said he came here to say his peace but did not expect anything in return. >> it happened. it happened. i am sorry i can't forgive you. >> i understand. i wish you well and wish you nothing but the best. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> uh-huh. >> may god bless you. >> you too. >> you take care of yourself. okay. >> you too.

>> reporter: as glenn ford watches the man who helped to steal 30 years of his life walk out the door his caretakers gather around him and the emotion seems to rush in. ♪ >> reporter: for "nightline," this is dan harris in new orleans. it's been said no lie can live forever, but hurt can. our thanks to the team. next these strangers are pairing up for the ultimate romantic getaway but will it last? leave the light on. this rising country star is just getting started.

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picture the perfect vacation. now picture going on it with a virtual stranger who's paying for everything. a website is pairing up people who consider themselves attractive with people who consider themselves generous. here's abc's matt gutman. >> reporter: this year for spring break kesslyn ross will be joining her friends on the beach. >> here's to miami and a fantastic spring break and may i never remember any of it. >> reporter: she is going on an all expenses paid vacation with a total stranger. >> with traveling to miami and we are going to meet up for the first time. he's paying for this entire thing. >> my name is dave koncsol. i'm

6, i live in santa monica california. i'm looking for someone to go on vacation went with and have a good time. >> spring break romance with the help of misstravel.com. an on-line dating site that pairs attractive women with generous males who foot the bill for trips all over the world. >> i'm kesslyn ross 21 a junior at tulane university. >> reporter: she has no intention of telling her parents she's about to spend the weekend in miami with a guy she's never met. >> my dad might have an issue with it because i'm his only girl and he loves me and wants to make sure i'm safe. >> reporter: she feels comfortable since she's been chatting with dave a few weeks now. >> and we have arrived. >> reporter: when kess arrives it is well past 1:00 a.m. she's having last-minute doubts. >> if it sucks or he doesn't look like he is supposed to i'm sprinting and heading for the hills. oh, my god. he's real.

you are not 5'2". >> no. >> reporter: kess is pleasantly surprised. >> you took forever. >> i blame the flight mainly. >> reporter: it is late so they head to their separate rooms for the night. the next day kess sleeps in past noon and dave is waiting for hours. >> the not the whole day, a few hours. >> reporter: she meets him at lunch and the two start to hit it off. >> that's awesome. >> you have to make friends with people who make you drink. >> reporter: dave paid for the romantic getaway so the arrangement poses a question. that is a significant outlay of wash. >> depends on your income. >> reporter: there is no expectation that anything will happen. >> that's not how it works. >> it's nothing like a sugar baby, sugar daddy kind of thing. >> reporter: thu you think there are no expectations. >> i have laid down my -- basically my laws and morals.

>> reporter: that night at the bar. >> to a first date. >> reporter: conversation isn't as flowing as freely as the drinks. kess is more interested in other men. they hop in a cab. heading to a club. kess doesn't seem to be digging the date. >> i live in santa monica. >> reporter: you have to wonder if the trip is living up to dave's expectations. >> a lot of people look at misstravel.com and think wow, these men are taking trips with young women, the opposite could be true. >> browsing through a half million profiles on the site we found people hoping to find a match and millionaires looking for no strings attached fun and women seeking financial support. some say misstravel is akin to an escort service. >> the guy will pick up the tab and sex might be evolved. so do we equate the dinner he

paid to sex, absolutely not. >> reporter: if he looked for a hookup, his prospects aren't looking good. kess is sick. >> should be fine once we get to the doctor. >> reporter: kess get asteroid hot in hopes of salvaging the weekend. later that afternoon, she is back on her feet and things start to heat up. >> he is better. >> you are better. >> reporter: and the chemistry carries on pool side. >> i know. i looked the other day and thought it would be sweet to come up here. >> no, i just meant you because you are gorgeous. >> reporter: with the back rubbing and kisses dave isn't complaining. i never ask you to kiss and tell but did you guys kiss and if so tell. >> it may have happened when we were out. >> i mean yeah.

>> reporter: as the sun sets on their last night together in miami, they talk about the future. >> maybe next time we should go to somewhere more chill. >> reporter: with early flights the next morning, they hug good-bye. >> i will come see you in may. >> reporter: they say there is a more intimate sendoff off camera. >> all right. see you. >> bye. >> bye. >> reporter: for "nightline" i'm matt gutman in miami. >> are you buying that? would you go on a trip with a stranger head to our "nightline" facebook page and let us know. why country star sam hunt took his time breaking in to the music scene. ♪ abc news "nightline," brought to you by biotene. if you suffer from a dry mouth then you'll know how uncomfortable it can be. but did you know that the lack of saliva can also lead to tooth decay and bad breath? well, there is biotene specially formulated with moisturizers and lubricants...

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finally tonight he maybe a country star but sam hunt has fans beyond the country music scene. why did he keep his talent a secret for so long? here's abc's gloria riveria. >> reporter: he rocks a flat rim hat instead of a cowboy but somehow sam hunt is burning up the country charts with feel-good hometown tracks like "leave the night on." >> ♪ baby i know what you are wishin' for ♪ >> reporter: and "house party". ♪ we'll have a house party we don't need nobody ♪ >> reporter: he may seem like a natural but this georgia native

said he stumbled on music by chance hanging out with a friend playing the guitar the summer before college. >> i found a cheap guitar and a chord book. in country music if you learn three chords you can about play any country music. >> reporter: three chords is all it takes. that's the secret sam is sharing. >> reporter: his first love was football but he had a secret. >> no matter how tired i was i was obsessed with this newfound passion that i'd sit up at night and learn more chords and songs. >> reporter: not a lot of other guys on the football team are having these candle light sessions after practice. >> i kept it quiet for a long time. >> reporter: he moved to nashville and started writing. his big break came penning hits like "come on over" for kenny chesney ♪ i told you i wouldn't call or care ♪ >> reporter: and "cop car" for keith urban, a song inspired by

his own high school heart break. ♪ i fell in love in the back with of a car ♪ >> reporter: this country star isn't afraid to mix it up. ♪ i don't want to steal your freedom ♪ i don't want to change your mind ♪ >> reporter: leaving spoken word with mel lodic word like in "take your time." >> i don't know if you are looking at me or not. you probably smile like that all the time but i couldn't walk by and not say hi. >> yeah, but that change. that is what people talk about when they talk about how sam meshes different genres. >> a lot of people refer to it as rapping. those are people not familiar with rap music and hear something that sounds like it. >> reporter: his status comes from the way he wears his sensitivity on his sleeve. instead of a rock 'n' roll lifestyle, sam is focused on calling his mom, keeping up his faith and of course hanging out with his band mates. >> we're all roommates.

>> you live together as well? >> yeah. >> reporter: so it never stops? >> no. >> are you sick of each other? aren't you sick of this guy? >> yeah. >> reporter: good thing because this is just the beginning. you know your life is exploding. >> that's what i signed up for and i love it. >> reporter: for "nightline," i'm gloria riveria in chicago. ♪ it was the late country song writer harlan howard who said country music is three chords and the truth. thank you for watching abc news. tune in to "good morning amer