(WHAS11) -- Seventeen-year-old Josh Young walked away Friday night a free man after spending two years in the juvenile detention center while he waited to prove his innocence in the brutal murder of his step-brother, Trey Zwicker.
The teen's lawyer, Pete Schuler, said in a statement to WHAS11, 'He was released to the Stoneburner family to begin again a new life with them as their foster child. He is hopeful that soon his Family Court Judge will approve the petition allowing the Stoneburners to adopt him.'
The teen spent Sunday at church with the Stoneburner family and he is now focusing on graduating from high school.
Schuler describes Young's plans in the statement, saying, 'Joshua plans to enroll in public school. He has enough credits to be entering the 12th grade. Joshua wants to focus on academics, graduate from high school and perhaps attend college upon graduation.'
While the prosecution believed there was enough evidence to convict Young in Zwicker's 2011 murder, at one point turning down a plea deal, they now wish the teen all the best.
Those closest to the teen realize there is a long road ahead, but they are committed to helping Young transition back into a normal life.
Schuler ended his statement to WHAS11 by saying, 'Joshua hopes that he can turn his horrible experience as a criminal defendant facing substantial prison time into something positive.'
