KANSAS CITY, Mo — The Midwest Innocence Project hosted a small gathering Friday to celebrate one of its exonerees, Ricky Kidd, who was enjoying his 100th day of freedom.
Three years ago this month, 41 Action News first brought Kidd's plight to light. He was behind bars for a double murder he didn't commit.
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Finally, on a rainy August afternoon, Kidd walked out of the prison where he'd spent more than half of his life, while serving 23 years as an innocent man.
"There was plenty opportunity to be paralyzed or feel debilitated, but I chose not to," Kidd said at Friday's celebration.
His newfound freedom has included a series of firsts, which included getting a new driver's license and taking an escalator ride.
Kidd has started to share his story through a speaker's series called "I am Resilience," which is still booking now.
"Everybody has a struggle, and I want to be able to teach them about the five keys to being able to discover their own resilience," Kidd said.
So far, it's a journey that's taken him to four states, and along the way he's learning new things about himself.
It was a hotel stay in New York City that made him realize he's claustrophobic.
"I was hyperventilating," Kidd said. "Never saw that coming; never saw that coming."
Above all, Kidd remains deeply grateful and appreciate of the people who helped get him to where he is today, including that initial 41 Action News stories about his struggle for freedom.
"This story would — could — very well be told from behind prison walls," Kidd said. "Less than 1% are ever successful on appeal, but I was among that, those numbers. I am grateful for that."
He'll share that gratitude Thursday with his family on Thanksgiving as a free man.
"It's my first year in 23 years I get to spend with my family and they get to spend with me and we get to laugh," Kidd said. "Then, I'm sure we'll cry, and I'm sure we'll get our bellies full, so I'm excited about that."
Some excitement is welcome after leaving a nightmare behind.
