The legal doctrine behind the ruling is known as abatement ab initio ("from the beginning"), the same concept that cleared former Enron CEO Ken Lay's criminal record back in 2006.
The former New England Patriots tight end was serving a life sentence in prison for killing the boyfriend of his fiancee's sister. He was found by corrections officers early Wednesday.
In 2013, the New England Patriots tight end was accused of killing the boyfriend of his fiancee's sister. A jury found him guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday.