robert mullins, the very same who testified against rick. hared a secret. he had lied about rick's involvement in the murders. >> i already knew it but to hear somebody else say it -- >> that mullins had lied. >> yes. >> kind of proud what he was able to do? >> yeah. >> now, this snitch on snitch story had the appeals judge's attention. >> the judge had to make a determination that the result of the trial would probably have been different -- >> because mullins story was that important in getting the conviction? >> right. >> the judge vacated rick's conviction saying the 23450u county solicitor could refile charges if he wanted. the solicitor said he did not. in 2013, after eight years inside, rick gagnon walked out of prison. he's settled on the carolina coast now married with children. >> just the smell of the ocean, it's like freedom. it's a terrible thing i went to prison for something i didn't do. it's changed my life. >> his old girlfriend believes her life was up ended, too. bambi's said she's cut ties with most of the people she grew