Erickson, who confessed to Columbia murder, to be paroled in January

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One of two men prosecuted and imprisoned for the murder of a former Columbia sports editor is set to be released on parole early next year.

Charles Erickson, 37, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after confessing to the Nov. 1, 2001, murder of Columbia Daily Tribune Sports Editor Kent Heitholt. He is set to be released in January. Erickson is serving his sentence at the Boonville Correctional Center.

A parole board set Erickson's release date in November. His parole date had been set for July 2023 before that decision, a Department of Corrections spokeswoman said.

Erickson has claimed innocence, saying he was coerced into confessing to the murder. He sought his release from prison last year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Erickson's mother tells ABC 17 News that the parole board will hold another hearing with her son this July to consider move up the release date even earlier. Marianne Erickson said changes to state law made last year allowed people convicted of crimes that happened when they were 17 years old or younger an earlier chance at parole. Since Heitholt's death happened when Charles was 17, he qualified for the review held in November.

Ryan Ferguson was arrested along with Erickson. Despite maintaining his innocence from the beginning, Ferguson was convicted of second-degree murder. Erickson’s testimony at trial played a large role in the conviction because there was no physical evidence tying the two to the crime.

Erickson told police and prosecutors that he and Ferguson attacked Heitholt, who was strangled to death, because they had run out of money while out partying and wanted more cash.

A judge later threw out Ferguson's conviction.

Assistant News Director Katie Greathouse contributed to this report.