TOLEDO -- The timing of this story couldn’t be more fitting.

On this Monday before Thanksgiving, Laverne Knighten’s family got a call they were not expecting.

“They said this is NBC News and we want to know if you guys are kin to Willie Knighten and I said yea that’s my brother and she said is it true that he’s coming home and I said no I didn’t know nothing about that, but I know he’s coming home soon and she said yea he’s coming home tomorrow and we want to come by and interview you guys. I didn’t know what to do,” said Sadari Knighten, the sister of Willie.

Governor Ted Strickland granted clemency to Laverne’s son Willie, who has been locked up for almost 13 years for the 1996 shooting death of Irving Turner.

While the Knighten’s cry tears of joy, making plans with Willie over the phone to pick him up from prison, about a mile away, tears of sorrow flow from the eyes of a mother who still grieves for her dead son.

“Well as for my Thanksgiving, it’s kind of sad you know, because I be missing my son, but I’m happy that they could be happy,” said Addie Turner, the mother of the 1996 victim.

Just before the judge in the 1996 case William Skow died, he wrote a petition for Knighten’s clemency.

In the letter he wrote, “Over the past years I’ve become increasingly persuaded that my findings were erroneous and that –in fact- it is more likely than not that Willie Knighten was innocent of the underlying charges. This case has weighed heavily on my mind ever since.”

The judge goes on to say,

“…he has now served more than 12 years for an offense he likely did not commit.”

Clemency is an Executive power that the President or a Governor, in this case Governor Strickland can apply.

By granting clemency, Knighten is still technically found guilty of all charges including murder, attempted murder, and two firearms charges.

The change is, instead of serving the original 15 to life sentence, Knighten gets credit for the nearly 13 years served and goes free.

The mother of the victim feels ok about Willie being released.

“Willie I think he done did way over time you know, for what he did,” Turner said.

Meanwhile, back at the Knighten house, plans commence for one extra place at this years thanksgiving table.

“It’s a blessing and we’ve been praying. The church members have been praying so it’s nothing but the grace of God,” said Laverne Turner, Willie’s mother.