Tim Masters walks out of the Larimer County courthouse a free man on January 22, 2008, after a judge ordered his release. Masters served nearly a decade in prison. (THE DENVER POST | HELEN RICHARDSON)
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FORT COLLINS — "I want to see my family," Masters' last words at news conference

11:22 Masters said his attorneys bought clothes with their own money. He thanks them. "I love the suit and tie," he said.

11:22 Masters thanks family, media

11:22 "i'm a little overwhelmed here, so bear with me," Masters' first words

11:21 Wymore lets Masters take questions

11:20 Wymore asks prosecutors not to seek new charges against Masters

11:19 Wymore makes special note of family of victim, and support Masters' family gave him

11:18 Applause for work of the Eikelenbooms, the Dutch DNA team

11:17 At press conference, defense attorney David Wymore

Freedom

  • View the full multi-media special report on Masters' release.
  • View exclusive images of Masters' release from jail
  • Discuss freedom for Tim Masters, after more than nine years in prison. What should happen next?
  • Watch video of what jurors and the public didn't know at the time of the Tim Masters trial.
  • Read The Denver Post's full series on the mishandling of criminal evidence, "Trashing the Truth."
acknowledges those who helped with appeals. "The reason we are here is because Tim is innocent. He remains the victim of an unfair conviction." 11:10 a.m Cheering and clapping breaks out. Masters hugs his attorneys

11:08 Judge tells courtroom that Masters' team plans immediate press conference

11:05 $200,000 personal recognizance bond for Masters. Next court date Feb. 5

11:03 Weatherby dimisses the case against Masters. This follows a statement by Mike Goodbee, special prosecutor, that because of new evidence in the form of DNA, it is in the interest of justice to dismiss the case against Masters.

10:58 a.m. All of Masters large family re-enters the courtroom and stands in the back

10:55 a.m. Timothy Masters enters courtroom with a slight smile.

10:45 a.m. Lawyers for Masters say the delay in proceedings is a result of the court waiting for a fax from the Colorado Department of Corrections saying that Masters has been officially released.

10:19 a.m. Weatherby is back in the courtroom. His staff brings papers to him. The court has not officially restarted.

10:14 a.m. Momentary lull. The judge has left the courtroom.

10:08 a.m. Yellow

District Judge Joseph Weatherby calls Masters' family forward at the Larimer County courthouse before a hearing on his potential release from prison on January 22, 2008. (THE DENVER POST | RJ SANGOSTI)
ribbons appear on shirts and blouses of people in the courtroom.

10:04 a.m. Court resumes.

9:54 a.m. A flier is distributed around the courtroom. It encourages everyone in Colorado to put yellow ribbons on their lapels, car antennas, homes, street signs and light poles to demonstrate a welcoming and suportive spirit for Timothy Masters.

9:51 a.m. Special prosecutors Goodbee and Quammen and defense attorneys Wymore and Liu continue to meet with the judge in chambers. In the courtroom, Larimer County District Attorney Larry Abrahamson talks with various people in the courtroom. The courtroom is filled with chatter, a happy buzz.

9:35 a.m. Judge Weatherby announces a short break and says he will be

Tim Masters is transported to the Larimer County courthouse on January 21, 2008, where he is expected to be released prison after nine years. (THE DENVER POST | HELEN RICHARDSON)
back at 10 a.m. Defense attorney Wymore says he needs to meet with the judge in his chambers.

9:32 a.m. The judge asks whether there are any members of Peggy Hettrick's family present. If so, he asks that they meet with prosecutors so they can be seated in the courtroom. His staff checks the hall and informs the judge that none of the victim's family is present.

9:22 a.m. Weatherby asks Masters' relatives to be quiet. "This is not a celebration. We cannot provide you all chairs. I know this will be sort of a family reunion, but this will be done outside."

9:20 a.m. Thirty-eight members of the Masters family are asked to enter the courtroom by Weatherby. They are crowded in the area behind the judge.

9:14

Tim Masters waits in the Larimer County Detention Center to be transported to the Larimer County courthouse on January 21, 2008. (THE DENVER POST | HELEN RICHARDSON)
a.m. Judge Joe Weatherby arrives and looks at the crowded courtroom. Several hundred people are now in — or in the vicinity of — the courtroom.

9:00 a.m. Special prosecutors Mike Goodbee and Tom Quammen arrive. The courtroom is packed with the overflow extending back into the hall.

8:50 a.m. David Wymore and Maria Liu, Masters defense lawyers, arrive.

8:40 a.m. A large contingent of Timothy Masters' family arrives, primarily aunts, uncles, cousins. About 30 in all. Courtroom is overflowing. Court personnel say it is unlikely the proceedings will be moved to another courtroom because none are available.

8:33 a.m. Richard and Selma Eikelenboom arrive. The Dutch team was instrumental in finding human cells of an alternate suspect on Peggy Hettrick's clothing.

8:30 a.m. Barie Goetz, the crime scene expert for the Masters defense team, paces in the well of the courtroom. He is the former the Colorado Bureau of Investigation lab director.

8:20 a.m. Sheriffs' deputies announce that a room has been set up across the hallway from the courtroom for various press conferences pertaining to the Masters case.

8:10 a.m. Serena Castro, Tim Masters' sister, arrives at the courtroom. She drove 19 hours from her home in California to attend. It has been months since she has been in Fort Collins.

8:08 a.m. Troy Krenning, a former Fort Collins detective who believed Timothy Masters innocent, arrives in the courtroom.

7:45 a.m. The "48 Hours" crews runs wire through the courtroom.

7:40 a.m. A professor from the University of Colorado, a longtime death penalty opponent, walks into the courtroom.

7:38 a.m. Deputies in the courthouse and a courtroom bailiff open the doors of the courtroom where the Masters hearing will be held. Spectators are allowed to enter and sit where they like.

7:30 a.m. The doors of the Larimer County Courthouse open and a crew from "48 Hours" begins to move several loads of equipment into the courthouse.