Dad freed from life sentence in son's death

Alan Yurko, convicted of fatally shaking his baby, wins his release.

By Anthony Colarossi and Pamela J. Johnson
Sentinel Staff Writers
August 28, 2004

Alan Yurko, sentenced to life in 1999 for shaking his baby son to death, is a free man today after a judge ruled a botched autopsy and other new evidence warranted a new trial.

Soon after Circuit Judge C. Alan Lawson's ruling Friday, Yurko reached a deal with prosecutors: He pleaded no contest to manslaughter and was sentenced to the time already served -- six years and 125 days.

Hours later, he was later released from the Orange County Jail into the arms of his wife and to the cheers of about 25 supporters, who have long maintained his innocence.

A broadly smiling Yurko emerged through the jail's glass doors shortly after 8 p.m. with a large white trash bag filled with legal papers and letters slung over one shoulder.

"God, I just want to go home," Yurko said. "I haven't really believed this is real until now."

He immediately thanked those who fought for his release.