A Hispanic man who spent almost 20 years in jail for a murder he did not commit has been freed after prosecutors decided not to challenge an Illinois appeals court’s ruling.

On Dec. 9, the Illinois Appellate Court overturned Juan Rivera’s third conviction in the case, ruling there was a lack of evidence connecting him to the 1992 rape and murder of 11-year-old Holly Staker in the city of Waukegan.

Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Waller said Friday he had decided not to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court after “carefully reviewing and assessing the appellate court’s opinion, as well as considering the strengths and weaknesses of all the evidence.”

“Therefore, the prosecution of Mr. Rivera comes to a conclusion today.”