DNA test clears Washington man convicted in mother's death

SEATTLE (AP) — A Washington state man convicted of killing his mother 15 years ago is being freed from prison after investigators said new DNA tests linked another man to the crime.

Attorneys with the Innocence Project Northwest say they expect Donovan Allen to be released soon. They say a Cowlitz County judge ordered his release Tuesday after a prosecutor dismissed the charges against him.

Allen was 18 when he found his mother, Sharon Cox, in a pool of blood. He gave police a confession after 14 hours of interrogation. Though he later recanted, he was convicted and sentenced to life without parole.

Investigators said new DNA tests recently linked another man, 42-year-old Brian Del Kitts, to the killing. Kitts was arrested last week. The Daily News in Longview reports that he pleaded not guilty on Tuesday