Today, actually, marks a very special anniversary.

It sure does.

Today I celebrate one year after my release.

I fought for my release almost 24 years. And these last 12 months have been a lot

different than the last 24 years. I'm sitting with JJ in an office at NBC News. We've spent a lot

of time together since his release.

A year ago today was one of the greatest feelings in the world. I always had this vision of,

you know, the day that would come and I would be able to reunite with my family. And a year ago,

that became a reality.

And I remember just, like, walking outside of Sing Sing.

And right there at the front where they released me,

hugging my mother and my two sons.

And it was like, I never wanted to let go.

Yeah. I never wanted to let go. Yeah.

I never wanted to let go.

I'm Dan Slepian, and this is the final episode of Letters from Sing Sing.

Okay. Episode 8 The Apology On September 9th, 2021, J.J. walked out of Sing Sing and began his new life.

He and his family headed to a party thrown by friends and supporters,

people who'd helped JJ get out and helped his mom Maria keep going.

You have been there. You have been there for me.

Whenever I was down and I felt like I couldn't go anymore, there was always a call either from Dan or somebody that said, Maria, this is going to happen. We're going here. We're going to do this. We're going to do that. He's going to come home. We're going to get him home. And they never gave up. He never gave up. And that's. They never gave up. That's right.

And that's why I never gave up because they held me up.

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