PATERSON — Two local men who spent 24 years behind bars for murder but had their convictions overturned in September, walked out of the Passaic County Jail on Wednesday in sub 50-degree weather after a state Supreme Court judge denied a request to detain them pending a new trial.

Just before 4 p.m., Eric Kelley, 53, and Ralph W. Lee, 55, both from Paterson, walked out in street clothes, no longer having to wear the traditional jail-issued attire. There, they were greeted by family members.

“Everything is going to be all right. We made it,” said Kelley, wearing a long sleeve shirt, jeans and boots. “This DNA technology is wild. It’s excellent.”

Their convictions were overturned based on new DNA evidence following the July 28,1993 killing and robbery of Tito Merino, who was minding the family’s video rental shop on Union Avenue in Paterson. The DNA came from a green plaid baseball cap near the body of Merino when he died.

Test results done at the time of the murder were inconclusive. Lee and Kelley later recanted their confessions, saying they were coerced by police. In 2014, another DNA test was done and defense lawyers said the results were linked to a former Paterson resident, Eric Dixon, who now resides in Virginia. Dixon has not been charged in the case.

CONVICTIONS OVERTURNED:Murder convictions overturned in 1993 slaying

BAIL REDUCED:Men convicted in video store killing could go free with lower bail

DENIED:Bail reduction denied for 2 Paterson men in an overturned murder conviction

In September, Kelley and Lee had their convictions overturned.

In October, a state Supreme Court judge denied the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office request to reduce the bail of Lee and Kelley. During a hearing, a judge reduced their bail to $20,000, which the prosecution brought back up following an appeal. That appeal was denied Wednesday.

“Being locked up 24 years, there’s a lot I forgot how to do and everything I got to learn all over again. It’s an everyday process,” said Lee wearing a black sweater, a black T-shirt, jeans and white sneakers. “It’s emotional, but I had to deal with it and endure and deal with everything that came my way. I got to be patient.”

Defense lawyers Paul Casteleiro of Centurion and Vanessa Potkin of the Innocent Project believed they had a strong case and never wavered.

“It’s a glorious day. They’re finally free after 24 years,” Casteleiro said. “We got fought every step of the way. I have a lot of faith in courts and judges. That’s why we do this type of work.”

Standing a few feet from newly released men was Erica Mobley, Kelley's daughter.

“It’s not going to hit me until tomorrow. If I sleep and then I wake up, it’s still not going to hit me,” Mobley said. “We’re going to have a big Thanksgiving.”

Lee’s father, Ralph Lee, said last month after the bail reduction was denied that he couldn’t cry anymore after learning he wouldn’t come home with his son. Instead, Ralph Lee prayed.

“I waited, I waited, and I waited. And now, we finally made it,” Ralph Lee said. “I’m a great believer in Jesus. He kept me sane. I’m just thankful, man.”

Kelley and Lee are scheduled to be back in court in December for a hearing. They didn’t think about that Wednesday.

“We did it,” both Lee and Kelley chanted before heading out to have dinner. “We did it.”

Email: ortizk@northjersey.com