Editor’s note: This story was updated to clarify that Schofield’s conviction was upheld several times and his legal team only claims he was falsely convicted of the crime. Officials maintain that his conviction was legitimate.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Leo Schofield, Jr., a man who claims he was falsely convicted of stabbing his wife to death and dumping her body in Polk County 37 years ago, was released from prison on Tuesday.

Schofield, 58, was granted parole this month, nearly a decade after convicted killer Jeremy Scott confessed to the murder.

The case gained national attention through Pulitzer prize-winning author Gilbert King’s “Bone Valley” podcast, which took a deep-dive into the case. The popularity of the podcast led to public outcry over Schofield’s wrongful conviction.

In 1987, Michelle Schofield, newly-married to Leo Schofield, was found dead in a drainage canal in Lakeland. Investigators also discovered her abandoned vehicle off Interstate 4. She was stabbed over 20 times.

Detectives immediately zeroed in on Schofield, who claimed he was out searching for his missing wife at the time she was killed, according to the Innocence Project of Florida. The nonprofit acted as part of Schofield’s legal team for over 15 years and sought legal action to appeal his conviction, which was upheld multiple times ahead of his eventual release.

Leo and Michelle Schofield on their wedding day

Schofield has maintained his innocence for decades, but he remained in prison even after another man confessed to the murder and his fingerprints were found on the abandoned car. Schofield’s conviction was upheld and he was denied parole four times.

He was released on parole from Everglades Correctional Institution on Tuesday after serving 35 years of a life sentence. According to the New York Times, Schofield has since remarried, received a degree in theology and led Bible study at the prison.

“Due to last-minute additional conditions of his parole, we were not allowed to see him for his release, but we hope to visit him later this month,” Innocence Project Florida wrote in a social media post. “IPF has been part of Leo’s legal team for over 15 years, and we will not stop fighting for him until he receives true freedom and is no longer burdened by this wrongful conviction.”

Schofield’s new wife, Crissie Schofield, told the Times the news of his release was “a surreal feeling” and she felt “gratitude” and “relief.”