Kim Kardashian Quietly Posts Bond for Former Death Row Inmate

Kim Kardashian is using her extensive platform and wealth to help a man who has spent nearly his entire adult life behind bars. The reality mogul stepped in to pay the $500,000 bond for Richard Glossip, allowing him to walk out of an Oklahoma prison for the first time in almost three decades. Film producer and justice advocate Scott Budnick shared the news on social media, revealing that the billionaire “graciously paid for” the release. Glossip, who has long maintained he had nothing to do with the crime for which he was locked up, is finally tasting freedom as he waits for a new day in court.

The scene outside the facility was emotional as the 63-year-old finally stepped into the fresh air on May 14. US Weekly reported that Glossip walked out holding hands with his wife, Lea, looking completely overwhelmed by the moment. “I’m just thankful for my wife and my attorneys,” he told reporters after his release. “It’s overwhelming, but it’s amazing at the same time.” While he is no longer behind a cell door, Glossip still has to follow strict rules, including wearing a tracking device and staying within state lines while his legal team prepares for his third trial.

Glossip’s journey to this moment has been a literal ordeal that lasted 29 years. He came terrifyingly close to death multiple times, with nine different execution dates scheduled over the decades. He even sat down for three “last meals” before his scheduled death was called off at the final hour. In one instance in 2015, he was just three hours away from a lethal injection when a doctor realized a pharmacist supplied the wrong drugs. Last year, the Supreme Court finally stepped in and tossed out his conviction because prosecutors reportedly allowed a key witness to give testimony they knew was fake.

The case dates back to the 1997 death of motel owner Barry Van Treese. Prosecutors originally argued that Glossip, who managed the building, hired a maintenance worker named Justin Sneed to kill his boss to hide a money-stealing scheme. While Sneed confessed to the beating, he claimed the manager was the mastermind behind the plot. However, defense lawyers insist that Sneed acted alone during a botched robbery for drug money and lied about the manager to save himself from the death penalty. According to The Oklahoman, the state still plans to try the 63-year-old again, but it won’t seek the ultimate punishment this time around.

Kardashian hasn’t been alone in her fight to clear the man’s name. Susan Sarandon and television host Dr. Phil have also been very vocal about the case. The Skims founder previously used her social media accounts to tell her millions of followers that Glossip “deserves a full pardon” and argued that a man should not be executed for a crime he didn’t commit. Even though the reality star has faced her own struggles with passing the bar exam, her work in prison reform is clearly making an impact on the lives of those she believes were wronged by the system.

Now that he is home, the focus shifts to the upcoming legal battle. Judge Natalie Mai, who set the bond, expressed her hope that a trial “free of error” would finally bring closure to everyone involved. US Weekly notes that Attorney General Gentner Drummond‘s office is dedicated to getting a conviction based on “solid evidence” this time. While the state remains determined, Glossip’s attorney, Donald Knight, is confident that his client will eventually be fully cleared. For now, the man who was once a heartbeat away from execution is simply enjoying the quiet moments of a free life with his family.