Mother Reacts To Parole Of Son, Former Army Lt. Michael Behenna

After five long years in a military prison, Edmond native Michael Behenna will finally be able to come home.

Wednesday, February 12th 2014, 9:51 pm

By: News 9


After five long years in a military prison, Edmond native Michael Behenna will finally be able to come home. 

Behenna was an Army First Lieutenant when he was convicted in a military court of killing an Iraqi detainee "execution style" in 2009. 

Behenna always maintained he shot in self-defense, and the suspect was lunging at him. Behenna's mother Vicki, who's also a state prosecutor, says her son will be released from Leavenworth Prison in Kansas March 14. 

2/12/2014 Related Story: Former Army Lt. Michael Behenna To Be Freed In March

"You just keep pressing and hope that someone will understand this was a 24-year-old man in a combat zone, and was faced with an Al Qaeda operative and just trying to do what he could to save his troops from further attack," she said. 

Behenna's long-time girlfriend Shannon Wahl has known Michael since they were in second grade at Edmond's Will Rogers Elementary.

"By all means, I will be one of the first people to tackle him when he walks out that front door March 14th," she said. 

Behenna's mother says he plans to take it easy for a while. He eventually plans to go to work for a Rancher in the Southwest part of Oklahoma.

2/12/2014 Related Story: Former Army Lt. Michael Behenna Wins Parole, To Be Released

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