Ryan Widmer is out of jail.
The Hamilton Township man, who was previously convicted of killing his newlywed wife, is out on bond while he awaits a new trial.
He was released from the Warren County Jail on Friday after his bond was posted.
Earlier in the day, Judge Neal Bronson lowered Widmer's bond from $1 million to $400,000.
The Widmer family was able to post the $40,000 needed to get Ryan out of jail.
Widmer's attorney says his client will be spending time with his family and preparing for his retrial.
The judge has set some conditions for Widmer's bond. He must stay away from Sarah's family and be home from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
“We disagree with the bond amount set by the Court for a crime of this nature,” Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel stated. “Regardless of this fact, we will continue forward to insure that justice is sought for Sarah Widmer.”
Widmer's attorneys asked for the lower bond after the 12th District Court of Appeals ruled Thursday it would not block a retrial.
Mark Godsey, Widmer's attorney, said Thursday Judge Bronson said at the last hearing if the appeals court ruled in their favor he would lower the bond to $400,000. Godsey said if that bond amount was granted, they would be able to come up with the money needed to get him out of jail.
Warren County prosecutors tried to have the appeals court step in and block a new trial.
Judge Bronson ordered a retrial because of juror misconduct.
A jury convicted Widmer in April in the drowning death of his wife, Sarah.
Widmer said he was downstairs watching television and came upstairs to find Sarah, 24, unresponsive in the bathtub on Aug. 11, 2008.
Ryan had been serving a 15 year to life sentence at the Lebanon Correctional Facility after his conviction.
After the conviction was overturned, Widmer was moved to the Warren County Jail.
His defense said at least two jurors conducted "home experiments" to see how long it would take a wet body to air-dry after being in the bathtub. They say those experiments tainted the jury and its conviction.
Several jurors later signed affidavits stating three fellow jurors admitted to timing how long it took them to air-dry. The jurors then reportedly shared this information "when discussing whether or not it was reasonable for Sarah to be dry at the time the first responder arrived."
Prosecutors said jurors did nothing wrong and their actions did not materially change the verdict. They said the guilty verdict was supported by sufficient evidence, the State's closing argument was proper in all respects and the jury did not engage in any improper behavior.
Ryan has maintained his innocence.
Thursday's ruling opened the door for a new trial. When that will take place has yet to be determined.
