CLIFTON, Texas — Joe Bryan, the Clifton man who was convicted of the 1985 murder of his wife, was released on parole, according to an Innocence Project of Texas Facebook post.
Bryan was found guilty in 1986 of killing his wife Mickey. He was sentenced to 99 years in prison but when the trial was reversed, Bryan was found guilty again in 1989 and he’s been in prison ever since.
"IPTX client Joe Bryan was released from Huntsville prison today after more than 3 decades. Massive thanks to the thousands of hours on this case from lead counsel for Joe, provided by IPTX attorney Jessi Freud," the post sida. "Also, big thanks to IPTX Board member Walter Reaves and Joe’s parole attorney Shea Place from Gatesville. IPTX Deputy Director Allison Clayton will be picking up his writ to be presented to the Supreme Court of the United States before the deadline of June 1st.
Mickey, who was a 4th-grade teacher at Clifton Elementary, was found dead in their Clifton home on Oct. 15, 1985. Bryan, who was the principal at Clifton High School, has always maintained he was at a principal's convention in Austin at the time of his wife's death.
