. >> reporter: for april erdos, the drive to wabash prison is one she knows farhree years, three months, some-odd days. >> reporter: the many long days this mother's been fighting for >> you can't explain what it feels like. it comes down to the love you have for your child. that's what makes it hurt so evi was sentenced to 50 years in prison for felony murder, even though he didn't pull the trigger. he didn't even have a gun. >> i just want to see hisat's going to be a kodak moment right there. >> reporter: more than 250 miles away in elkhart, indiana, levi's life was foreverfall day in 2012. he was hanging out with four of his friends. among them 21-year-old denzel johnson and 16-year-old blake ot off school that day. we ended up talking. coming up with dumb-ass plans. excuse my la plan was to rob an empty house. >> why an empty house? >> it was just a plan to get quick money, it was never a practicen to hurt anyoneanyone. >> were any of your armed? >> no. >> reporter: they settled on >> you're convinced nobody's inside? >> we had knocked beforehand. i mean, -- not just rung the doorb

. >> reporter: april erdos' final drive to wabash prison is here at last. >> he's going to have all kind of emotions when he gets out. >> i was extremely nervous. like my palms got sweaty. i was in there shaking. as soon as he said nine years i was like, whoo! i knew i was going to be home. >> i don't -- i think i'm going to be speechless. i'm just going to hug him. had one before. did you see uncle levi? oh, i see him. you're free, levi! thank god you're home. >> yeah, it's all over with. i love you. >> love you. >> reporter: a mother's heartache finally over. >> a car. >> how's it feel? >> a car. >> reporter: these are his first few moments of freedom. >> good. >> i can't imagine what you're feeling. >> god. that place was hell. >> reporter: a family road trip back to elkhart filled with simple pleasures. >> reporter: a new play list. >> i'm not saying anything. no, i'm not singing. absolutely not. >> look at mom. >> reporter: the first post on facebook. >> what are you doing? >> posting on facebook. we have levi, on our way home. all right? >> reporter: but levi's release is bitterswe