ten years in the making. ryan ferguson left prison yesterday a free man after a court vacated his murder conviction. he was found guilty in 2005 for the beating and strangling of a newspaper editor on halloween night in 2001. he was sentenced to 40 years in prison. ferguson was only 19 at the time. the appeals court ordered ferguson to be released after it ruled he did not receive a fair trial. prosecutors will not retry ferguson. this morning he told the "today" show what it means to be a free man. >> it's beyond my comprehension. definitely look forward to the day and just going to be with my family and take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. [ sniffles, coughs ]