NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Thomas Clardy returned to prison Friday after an appeals court reversed a 2023 decision that had overturned his murder conviction and freed him after 17 years behind bars.

Clardy walked back into Riverbend Maximum Security prison surrounded by family and supporters wearing "Justice for Thomas" T-shirts.

"I stand here to tell you again, I'm innocent. I walk back into these prison walls knowing that I'm an innocent man," Clardy said.

Clardy was convicted in 2007 for a 2005 shooting at a Madison auto-repair shop that killed Kirk Clouatre and injured Kirk's brother and wife. He received a life sentence.

His lawyers say no physical evidence has ever tied Clardy to the crime, no motive was ever presented at trial, and he was at home with his pregnant wife at the tim

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