The captivating saga of Amanda Knox, a 24-year-old American who was convicted, and now cleared of, killing her roommate in Italy, came full circle when she returned home to Seattle, Wash. just minutes ago.

Knox was convicted of the Nov. 1, 2007 murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, while studying abroad in Perugia, Italy. Knox, along with her boyfriend, Raffeale Sollecito, was sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Kercher was a 21-year-old student from London.

However, a new investigation put the small amounts of DNA used as forensic evidence to doubt. The conviction was based heavily on circumstantial evidence.

Knox’s conviction was overturned yesterday, Oct. 3 by an Italian appeals court. Still, she was found guilty of slandering a man in Italy who she said was responsible for Kercher’s death. She was sentenced to three years (time already served) and a $29,000 fine.

In a separate trial, 24-year-old Rudy Guede was also convicted of the murder. Although his sentence was shortened, to 16 years, his conviction has not been overturned.

One of Knox’s lawyers, Theodore Simon, is a Philadelphia-based attorney and 1974 alumnus of Temple’s law school.

“Meredith was Amanda’s friend,” Simon said at a press conference held when Knox and her family landed in the United States.

Knox spoke briefly, thanking her supporters and defenders and stating plans to spend time with family.