Willingham's Ex-Wife: "He Watched While Their Tiny Bodies Burned" To my family, to my brother Gerard, I love you. Cameron Todd Willingham was convicted of murder for killing his three daughters in a late 1991 house fire after a prosecution based almost entirely on a forensic fire analysis performed by an assistant fire chief and a state deputy fire marshal in the days after the blaze. 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She recalled: "We had two guys in one night, and the first had a really ugly statement where he was telling the victims' families, 'I hope y'all get in a crash and die on your way home., He also said: You can kiss my ass,' and a whole bunch of stuff., Lyons explained: "It really stood out that night because it was so ugly, but then the second execution afterwards, the guy was so apologetic and was crying and telling the victim's family, 'I am so sorry I did this to you. But anyway I just wanted, right after that to apologize to you. Texas mom who witnessed more than 300 executions tells how she's still That isit. With Jack O'Connell, Laura Dern, Emily Meade, Chris Coy. Cameron Todd Willingham: Did Texas execute an innocent man? - news After all, she also agreed to take to the stands to state the same during his trial. Some may choose to apologise for their crimes, others take their own route, she also explained. The Innocence Project assembled five of the nations leading independent arson experts to review the evidence in the case, and this prestigious group issued a 48-page report finding that none of the scientific analysis used to convict Willingham was valid. ", Richard J. Wilkerson Executed 8/31/93"Seeing Through the Eyes of a Death Row Inmate"Sometime I wonder why, why he? I would first of all like to express my sincere gratitude to innocence project org for the noble work youre doing in fighting for justice for those that have been treated unfairly in the eyes of the law. Like I said, I am sorry for hurting your family. The Fire That Started & Ended It All. 1 year old twins: Kameron, Karmon, and two year old: Amber. Willingham was convicted of murdering his three daughters by arson in 1992 and was executed on February 17, 2004. This would include meeting with prisoners hours before they died and hearing prison chaplains offer advice to those on death row on how to die well.. There is a central room and two witnesss rooms divided by a wall, ensuring the two groups never meet. Precious Lord. He was confessed, he was one of the guilty ones. An investigative report in the September 7, 2009, issue of the New Yorker deconstructs every facet of the states case against Willingham. The Case Of Cameron Todd Willingham. I. I. NTRODUCTION. A WOMAN who has seen nearly 300 prisoners die at Huntsville State Prison in Texas said she still remembers the final words of Cameron Willingham, who killed his three daughters. I recently finished The Lost City of Z, David Granns account of the British explorer Percy Fawcetts final journey in the Amazon basin, where Fawcett disappeared in 1925. Sicha, Michael It's Never Too Late to Clear the Name of an Innocent Loved One Executed The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. The pursuit of justice has always been rooted in good will, to succeed those who have been wronged. Lyons who is a mother to a daughter herself claimed that during the killers execution, his wife was behind a glass window witnessing it, and he screamed at her: "I hope you rot in hell, b***h. I hope you f**king rot in hell.". They knowingly put an innocent man to death. Cameron Todd Willingham prosecutor John Jackson charges: Corrupt You bitch; I hope you fucking rot, cunt. Death By Fire | WETA That poignant end reads almost like a Hollywood script, doesnt it? By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. That process could take months. According to an article by The New Yorker, Cameron was unfaithful, a heavy drinker, and physically assaulted Stacy at times, even while pregnant. A WOMAN who has seen nearly 300 prisoners die at Huntsville State Prison in Texas said she still remembers the final words of Cameron Willingham, who killed his three daughters. Ah, you have been a blessing to me and I love you all and one day I will see y'all, so I hope y'all find y'all peace, comfort, and strength in Christ Jesus alone, because that's where it's at. Texas put Cameron Todd Willingham to death by lethal injection on Feb. 17, 2004, for the murder of his three children by arson in 1991. The most unfortunate part is that the film poorly serves a real-life miscarriage of justice, the 2004 execution in Texas of Cameron Todd Willingham (O'Connell) for the arson murder of his three . Cameron Todd Willingham's Ex-Wife Stacy Kuykendall Says - HuffPost Willingham's ex-wife tearfully reiterated her contention Wednesday . I sent a letter to somebody, you know a letter outlining what I feel about everything. Meticulously researched, staunchly reported and beautifully written, it covers the history of Londons Royal Geographic Society, to which Percy belonged, and the 300-year quest for the mythical golden city, El Dorado, as well as the rubber trade and its effect on indigenous tribes who shoot six-foot arrows from seven-foot bows. Its the best book I read this year. Michelle's book Death Row: The Final Minutes, is available now. He then reportedly looked right at his victims' family and told them: "Be careful when you drive home. Willingham's former probation officer and a judge both directly refute any notion that he was a sociopath. The article in the New Yorker quoted Willingham's protest of innocence as his final words, but Loyd Cook of the Daily Sun was one of three media witnesses at the execution. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Fade to black. I love you mom. From Gods dust I came and to dust I will return-so the earth shall become my throne. A Troubled Young Man | "Death by Fire". The reporter also said she witnessed the last moments of Brian Keith Roberson, who stabbed his neighbors James Boots, 79, and Lillian Boots, 74, to death during a burglary in Dallas in 1986. She also added her experience about a man named Rodolfo Hernandez, that she felt had been treated harshly with his death sentence. ", Irineo Montoya Executed 6/18/97"Goodbye. The late Texas native was arrested, tried, convicted, and executed for the murders of his three toddler daughters by arson in their family home on December 23, 1991. I will wait for you in Heaven. I got to go sister, I love you. ", Marcus Cotton Executed 3/3/04 "Yes Warden, I do. Willingham was sleeping when a fire broke out in his family's home. But, I hope that you can find your peace and comfort in strength in Christ Jesus alone. My life is all I can give. She explained that on the day of his execution, he thanked her for helping him meet with police officers so he could confess to other crimes he'd committed because he hadnt wanted to die with them on his conscience., News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. And piranha, and electric eels and anacondas and poisonous insects that attack your eyes and maggots that fester under your skin and toothpick-sized parasite catfish that swim up your penis through your urethra, lodge themselves there with sharp spines, and kill you. Accidental Fire or Murder? The Story of Cameron Todd Willingham I love you, Gabby.". This statement contradicted Stacys several others, especially as shed never mentioned such an argument earlier. Cameron Todd Willingham. Scott Peterson Case Essay - 674 Words | Internet Public Library Two weeks before Willingham's execution date in 2004, famed arson analyst Gerald Hurst took a fresh look at the case. For years, even after they divorced, Stacy Kuykendall advocated for Cameron and his innocence. The current DA, R. Lowell Thompson, told HuffPost he doesn't plan to challenge the pardon request. Facts: Two prosecution experts who testified that Willingham was a sociopath had never met him; one was expelled from his professional association three years later for unethical behavior. ", Donald Aldrich Executed 10/12/04"Yes sir, I would. Its the best book I read this year. Todd Willingham was executed by lethal injection in Texas in February, 2004. Their father Cameron Todd Willingham es-caped from the fire, was tried, and eventually executed for their deaths. The film 'Trial by Fire' re-opens the famous murder case of Corsicana's Investigation Discoverys Evil Lives Here: What If He Was Innocent? examines one of the most fascinating tales in American true-crime history by putting the focus on Cameron Todd Willingham once again. Bounce back, baby. In 1992, Willingham was convicted of arson-related triple homicide and was executed 12 years later by the death penalty after his three daughters were killed The panels review was interrupted several times over the last two years, however, and continues today. That is it.". (That blog is a project of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, which . Some say Cameron Todd Willingham was wrongfully convicted, and the court put an innocent man to death. You know? 1. Willingham's supposed confession to his ex-wife on death row (which, it seems, never happened, but more on that in a minute.) Unaware of Hursts report, she had determined that Willingham was guilty. Its the best magazine article I read this year. He said, the only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime. Thank you for your love.To the Hancock family, I am sorry for the pain I caused you. I walked in here like a man and I am leaving here like a man. Take care of my daughters, Kaneisha and Ieisha. You had some lovely girls and I am sorry. The meeting adjourned without action on the draft addendum, however. However, the final words that she describes as the 'worst' are those of a convicted child killer who used his final moments to directed a chilling tirade towards his ex-wife and the mother of the three daughters he murdered. I have no revenge because hate wont solve anything. I'm sorry, and I really mean that, it's not just words. 1 of 5 Cameron Todd Willingham waits for guards to take him back to his cell on death row days before his execution on Feb. 17, 2004. A woman who witnessed nearly 300 executions in the state of Texas has revealed that she is still haunted by the final words of a man who killed his children in a shocking arson. ", Angel Maturino Resendiz Executed 6/27/06"Yes sir. "I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. There was no Hollywood happy ending, no last-minute call from the governor . Case creates controversy as governor resists and arson experts are challenged. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Edward Zwick Reopens Death Row Case in Trial by Fire The chilling memoirs, which she recently penned in her book Death Row: The Final Minutes, has now been fully revealed, with every experience unique in its own right. Matthews. "My girls would have been 23 and 21 years old today. Well, Grann doesnt actually say those words are the very last, but that is certainly the picture the reader gets. I'm real sorry for it. The film stars Jack O'Connell, Laura Dern, Emily Meade, Jeff Perry and Jade Pettyjohn.. Trial by Fire had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2018 and was released on May 17, 2019, by . Though, in the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, Willingham has faced the harsh reality . by Brandi Grissom 3. Press "Enter" or click on the arrow to show results. Although Willingham fought for his innocence for 12 years on death row, he was executed in . Resources in the case are below, along with background on the role of unvalidated forensics in wrongful convictions. (That blog is a project of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, which describes itself as the only public interest law foundation in the nation working full time to strengthen law enforcements ability to assure that crime does not pay. Its advisers include Edwin Meese III, who is also associated with the Heritage Foundation.). He reasserts his innocence, and his very last words are religious. Its so sad that in a country like the US which we Ugandans admire and always wish that our lawmakers could benchmark in abid to create a free and unbiased judicial system such loopholes. . She stood by that claim in her statement to HuffPost, "I did not want to believe that he could kill our children either, but he did," she said. more to his last words than that, however. Michelle Lyons worked as a newspaper reporter and a Texas state employee at the jail and said Willingham was swearing and yelling at his wife, Stacy Kuykendall, even as . The former journalist said: "You do have some that would just do outlandish stuff. 1. For years, Stacy Kuykendall advocated for Cameron Todd Willingham, stating repeatedly that she believed he didn't deliberately start the house fire that killed their three daughters in 1991. Yesterday, Willingham's former wife . I hope you rot in hell, bitch; I hope you fucking rot in hell, bitch. David Grann: Stacy Speaks | The New Yorker Stacy Kuykendall Now: Where is Cameron Todd Willingham's Ex-Wife Today Todd Willingham, an innocent man - charged, tried, convicted, and Cameron Todd Willingham had tater tots, onion rings, pie, enchiladas, and ribs. You know what I'm saying. A WOMAN who witnessed almost 300 people be put to death has revealed that one inmate told the victims family I hope you die.. Willingham's three children -- 2-year-old Amber Kuykendall and 1-year-old twins Karmon and Kameron Willingham, died of smoke inhalation. Im sorry and my head wasnt on straight. I love all of you very much. Doubts arise about jailhouse informant Johnny Webb in this excerpt from "Death by Fire," FRONTLINE's 2010 investigation of the controversial case of Cameron Todd Willingham - convicted and executed for the arson deaths of his three young children. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. "He admitted he did it and told me why," she said. Might Willingham have been guilty after all? Over the years, the former journalist has witnessed hundreds of death row inmates killed by lethal injection - with her first being murderer Javier Cruz in 1998. Cameron Todd Willingham execution: Arson forensics flawed and informant In 2009, an arson . Feb. 5, 20117 PM Central. Cameron Todd Willingham's final rant was so vulgar that the warden of the prison started out the execution just to shut him up. And it is a shame that it had to come to this. It ends like this: Just before Willingham received the lethal injection, he was asked if he had any last words. Warden Baggett, thank all of you so much. Dal momento che Willingham's Nell'esecuzione del 2004 , sono sorte importanti polemiche sulla legittimit del verdetto di colpevolezza e sull'interpretazione . Todd had minor burns but no major injury. Well, Grann doesnt actually say those words are the very last, but that is certainly the picture the reader gets. "I read that Todds stepmom and cousin are asking the governor for a pardon. Cameron Todd Willingham Last Words - vimbuzz.com Photo courtesy Todd Willingham . I love you all and I will see you on the other side. For a complete list of contributors, click here. Stacy Kuykendall prefers to remain out of the spotlight. No way you "accidentally" leave a kid in a . After reading in a local paper that a witness to the execution said that there was more to Willinghams last words than Grann conveyed, Crime and Consequences Kent Scheidegger contacted the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to retrieve a full transcript. Cameron Todd Willingham: A Trial By Fire - Where The Monsters Are Rick Perry replaced key members of the panel, delayed the investigation for months. But she shifted her outlook shortly before his 2004 execution, proclaiming that she now found him guilty of deliberately setting fire to their house. A WOMAN who witnessed almost 300 people be put to death has revealed that one inmate told the victims family I hope you die.. Apart from a few rare interviews, she doesnt let her past interfere with her day to day life. On Dec. 23, 1991, a fire consumed the Willingham home, killing Amber, 2, and twins Karmon and Kameron, 1. Cameron Todd Willingham's Real Last Words - The Awl He said, The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. My wife, who had been up a flight of stairs, beat me there. State bar files charges more than 10 years after execution. You bitch; I hope you fucking rot, cunt. This is because Willingham was anything but that; he regularly verbally abused and beat his wife, and in some of these instances, the police was called. Despite that, as time went by, her opinion got swayed by court documents and other evidence. The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man-convicted of a crime I did not commit. ", Cameron Todd Willingham Executed 2/17/04"Yeah. And although Stacy did tell investigators about the assault, she always said that her then-husband wasnt capable of hurting their children because she knew him better than anyone else. So I hope that you don't find peace, not in my death, but in Christ. I have made peace with God. 5 Must Watch Stories From Evil Lives Here - Investigation Discovery The reporter also said she witnessed the last moments of Brian Keith Roberson, who stabbed his neighbors James Boots, 79, and Lillian Boots, 74, to death during a burglary in Dallas in 1986. A leading arson expert in 2004, however, concluded in a report that the testimony from fire investigators used against Willingham was no longer scientifically valid. It was vulgar, it was hateful. 1763 Words8 Pages. In Edward Zwick's new film "Trial By Fire," opening Friday, these words are spoken by an arson investigator testifying in the murder trial of Cameron Todd Willingham, the Corsicana man . Todd granted the inspectors permission to search the property. Willingham, who was asleep when the fire started, survived. That is it. This would include meeting with prisoners hours before they died and hearing prison chaplains offer advice to those on death row on how to die well.. Yes, if one defines truth in the Clintonesque way of defensible as not literally false. I hope you rot in hell, bitch; I hope you fucking rot in hell, bitch. The arson finding that led to his 1992 conviction has been disputed by numerous fire experts. Thanks to Carolyn and Gloria, who have been my friends for over four years. I was raised by the California Youth Authority, I can't really pin point where it started, what happened, but really believe that's just the bottom line, what happened to me was in California. Earlier this month the bar lodged a petition in Navarro County, near Dallas, alleging that John Jackson withheld evidence that pointed to the innocence of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed . And the statement as Grann reports it is consistent with what we might expect from a person who actually was innocent. Two-year-old Amber Louise Kuykendall and one-year-old twins Karmen Diane Willingham and Kameron Marie Willingham were killed in 1991 in a fire that Willingham claimed was an accident. While Willingham . As Willingham's relatives seek to erase his conviction, with experts dismissing the original fire investigation as primitive and conducted using out-of-date techniques, Kuykendall renewed her insistence that her ex-husband started the blaze. Willingham Won't Get Posthumous Pardon | The Texas Tribune (Yes, they couldnt resist bringing in Clintonesque.). The Texas Department of Criminal Justice keeps a record of these last statements. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. I was in their reformatory schools and penitentiary, but ah, they create monsters in there. From God's dust I came and to dust I will return so the earth shall become my throne. Cameron Todd Willingham's stepmother and cousin, . Yes, if one defines truth in the Clintonesque way of defensible as not literally false. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. The 16,000-word article by David Grann shows that all of the evidence used against Willingham was invalid, including the forensic analysis, the informants testimony, other witness testimony and additional circumstantial evidence. She denied him his wish, later telling a reporter, He took my kids away fromme.. Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons Protestors posthumously campaigning for Cameron Willingham's innocence, photographed outside a hearing in 2010 (Image: Jay Jenner/AP) An American chemist and fire investigator named Gerald Hurst was able to rebut the evidence of arson brought against Willingham. Willingham claimed he was awoken by Ambers cries for her Dad but that the blaze was too intense and he had to flee after initially trying to save his daughters, The Daily Star reported. TIL that the real last words of Cameron Todd Willingham, executed in 2004 but now widely believed to be innocent, were a stream of curses directed at his ex-wife who was watching the execution and who claimed that he had confessed to her . Michelle Lyons, who worked as a journalist for The Huntsville Item between the years of 2000 and 2012, recently recalled some of the prisoners final words - admitting that some she will never forget. . Gross negligence and a severe consequence they failed to act on their duties. ", I saved myself from Royal life, Harry says & insists 'sharing's an act of service', Love Island's Olivia Hawkins breaks silence as she returns to the UK, Loose Women star lined up to be Strictly's first contestant in wheelchair, Coronation Street fans horrified as Amy Barlow is raped in disturbing scenes, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. At the trial, the prosecutor asserted that Willingham wanted to . 2023 Innocence Project. Cameron Todd Willingham, delivered a foul-mouthed tirade directed at his ex-wife. My wife don't know anything about it. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. To all of the racist white folks in America that hate black folks and to all of the black folks in America that hate themselves, she claimed he said, while tied to an electric chair. Lyons explained that initially the process made her "completely unbiased and unaffected" by what she saw, as the executions ran like clockwork and lasted a mere few minutes. In 2008, the Texas Forensic Science Commission agreed to investigate the case.