ORLANDO, Fla. – Edward Francis plans to use his second chance to teach kids what he already knows about going down the wrong path. He calls this a blessing and said he will not take it for granted.
"The street doesn't love you. Your family loves you and that's not only what I needed to see, but I'm hoping I can reach a bunch more to be able to see," Francis said.
Francis' mission is to share his life experiences in the hopes that kids won't follow in his footsteps.
"I want to give others a second chance and let them know that they are actually worth something," he said.
Francis walked out of the Orange County jail Friday night after serving 20 years of a life sentence. He was convicted of first-degree murder when he was 17 years old for his role in the kidnapping and killing of a man in 1996. Francis did not pull the trigger.
His release comes after the Supreme Court struck down mandatory life sentences for juvenile offenders.
"I didn't think I was worthy of it, I really didn't it, but now that I have this chance I have to make the best of it," Francis said.
Francis told News 6 he won't take this opportunity for granted, even though there may be some who don't believe he has changed.
"As long as I can keep my family and God with me, I can make it. No matter what any naysayer says, I can make it," he said.
Francis is serving five years on probation.