NORFOLK In the same courthouse where he first lost his freedom after being accused of raping and murdering a Navy wife in 1997, Derek Tice was declared a free man on Thursday.

NORFOLK The detective instrumental in convicting four former sailors in the rape and murder of a Navy wife now says he thinks the men are innocent, according to a sworn statement filed in court.

RICHMOND Retail stores and restaurant chains threw away Derek Tice's applications when they spotted his criminal record. After searching for six months, he landed a job as a window washer, his first employment since leaving prison. As a convicted felon and registered sex offender, Tice has severe limits on his career and his life, said his father, Larry Tice.

NORFOLK Two members of the Norfolk Four, convicted in the 1997 rape and murder of a Navy wife, have petitioned to have their convictions nullified based on what they call recently discovered misconduct by a former police detective.

NORFOLK At a sentencing hearing in May 2007, Norfolk Detective Robert Glenn Ford testified in Portsmouth Circuit Court on behalf of a longtime drug dealer named Tommy Lee Smith Sr. Ford swore under oath that Smith was instrumental in helping him solve two homicides and that he was in hot pursuit of a third, based on information Smith told him.

RICHMOND Three ex-sailors who received conditional pardons for rape and murder have been released from custody.

Department of Corrections spokesman Larry Traylor says Derek Tice and Danial Williams were released from Sussex I State Prison Thursday evening. Joseph Dick was released on Friday.

RICHMOND Lawyers for three sailors sentenced to life in prison for the 1997 rape and murder of Navy wife Michelle Moore-Bosko said Gov. Timothy M. Kaine didn't go far enough Thursday when he granted them conditional pardons that grant their release.

This story was originially published on April 17, 2006, regarding the rape and murder of Navy wife Michelle Moore-Bosko. NORFOLK

Former Virginian-Pilot writer Matt Dolan wrote a seven-part series on the Michelle Moore-Bosko murder. This article was published originally on July 15, 2000. The arrest of Omar Ballard in March 1999 threw the Michelle Moore-Bosko murder investigation into chaos. Ballard said he alone had killed the Navy wife almost two years earlier. And he was the only DNA match to the crime scene.

Former Virginian-Pilot writer Matt Dolan wrote a seven-part series on the Michelle Moore-Bosko murder. This article was published originally on July 14, 2000.  Billy Bosko and his mother, Pat, started to dread phone calls.