'Dr. Death' released from Mich. prison

COLDWATER, Mich., June 1 (UPI) -- Assisted-suicide advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian Friday walked out of a Michigan prison after serving more than eight years in the death of an ALS victim.

Kevorkian, who earned the moniker "Dr. Death," characterized his release as "one of the high points of my life" as he exited the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Mich., WWJ-AM, Detroit, reported.

Kevorkian was sentenced to 10- to 25-years in prison for second-degree murder in the death of Thomas Youk, who suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. His sentence was cut by a year and nine months for good behavior.

Kevorkian was prosecuted after his video of Youk's 1998 death was broadcast as part of an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes." He was to tape a follow-up interview Friday.

Kevorkian, who suffers from hepatitis C and hardening of the arteries in his temples, claims to have participated in more than 100 suicides in the 1990s.

Kevorkian attorney Mayer Morganroth said his client has no intention of helping any more people to die.