William “Fitlo” Hunt, now 80 years old, has been released after nearly six decades behind bars. Hunt was convicted of first-degree murder in Wayne County in 1967 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. From the start, he maintained his innocence.
On July 3, 2025, Governor Gretchen Whitmer granted Hunt a commutation of his sentence. A commutation reduces or changes a punishment, it is not a pardon, and it does not erase the conviction. Hunt’s life sentence was reduced, making him eligible for release from the Ernest C. Brooks Correctional Facility in Muskegon.
Walking out of prison on September 16th, Hunt summed up his freedom in one word: “Beautiful.” He added, “They didn’t break me, and they never will.”
Michael Thompson, founder of the Michael Thompson Clemency Project which supported Hunt’s case, said:
“Think about it for a minute, man. Sixty years of a person’s life. And you know he didn’t kill nobody.”
Hunt’s release is being marked with a community homecoming. He has said he plans to spend his time mentoring troubled youth and joining violence prevention efforts through FORCE Detroit.
Photo: Pat Hagan/WWMT
