Though, in the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, Willingham has faced the harsh reality . What was did, cannot be undone. ", Donald Aldrich Executed 10/12/04"Yes sir, I would. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. I have a good family. Yes, if one defines truth in the Clintonesque way of defensible as not literally false. That isit. Sometimes officers were forced to gas them out of cells, strap up their heads and even give chase across prison grounds. I hope you f***ing rot, c***. Willingham said he was asleep in the home when the fire started and always maintained his innocence. Please don't ever forget me. Yet, Michelle explained that by far the most chilling part of the process is when the inmates are given the opportunity to talk before they depart. 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. Why was the prosecutor and governor not charged with manslaughter? Willingham was executed in 2004. 2. 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. Aftermath of the fire [Texas State Fire Marshal's Office] On December 23, 1991, fire gutted the home where Cameron Todd Willingham, then 23, lived with his wife, Stacy Kuykendall, and the couple's three daughters: two-year-old Amber Kuykendall and one . So I hope that you don't find peace, not in my death, but in Christ. By Maurice Possley. more to his last words than that,however, Choire Usually, the warden will allow them to talk for about two minutes. Take me home. He reasserts his innocence, and his very last words are religious. 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. Stacy, who had for so long expressed belief in Willinghams innocence, had recently taken her first look at the original court records and arson findings. "I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. I love you.I am ready to go home and be with my Lord. The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man-convicted of a crime I did not commit. On April 15, 2011, the TFSC issued its final report in the Willingham / Willis cases. My wife had nothing to do with it. If I was y'all, I would have killed me. KERA Public TV and Radio for North Texas: Houston Chronicle Op-Ed by Barry Scheck and Patricia Cox. I have been persecuted for twelve years for something I did not do. Sicha, Michael This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. 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. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. He said, the only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime. However, a police investigation determined that the fire had been started using some sort of liquid accelerant, and Willingham was reportedly relatively unharmed after the fire. I miss them so much.. 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. You've been the best. In 2004, Cameron Todd Willingham was executed afters years of trying to appeal his conviction, maintaining his innocence until the end. I want to ask if it is in your heart to forgive me. 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 . Lyon recalled that warden signalled for the execution to begin while he continued hurling insults at her until he finally became silent. "You b****. Is it the whole truth? I have been persecuted for twelve years for something I did not do. State bar files charges more than 10 years after execution. Cameron Todd Willingham, of Texas, was the husband of Stacy Willingham and the loving father of three young girls.There is a reason why I did not include the word 'loving' in front of the word 'husband'. To be out there and see what really did exist, now his name is written down on the Death Row list. Press "Enter" or click on the arrow to show results. Its the best book I read this year. Does knowing the full scope of his final statement change the way you feel about Willingham? ", Furthermore, a fellow final speech, delivered by Cameron Todd Willingham, saw a tirade directed at his ex-wife, including every swear word you could imagine.. Two weeks before Willingham's execution date in 2004, famed arson analyst Gerald Hurst took a fresh look at the case. examination of the evidence persuaded her. It was me and me alone. ", James Moreland Executed 1/27/00"Dad, I love you both. 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. Cameron Todd Willingham (January 9, 1968 - February 17, 2004) was an American man who was convicted and executed for the murder of his three young children by arson at the family home in Corsicana, Texas, on December 23, 1991.Since Willingham's 2004 execution, significant controversy has arisen over the interpretation of the evidence that was used to convict him of arson and murder. more to his last words than that, however. I lied on him in court. A Troubled Young Man | "Death by Fire". I hope that you can forgive me. Willingham was convicted of murdering his three daughters by arson in 1992 and was executed on February 17, 2004. Cameron Todd Willingham had tater tots, onion rings, pie, enchiladas, and ribs. 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. 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. The process usually sees witnesses and the media brought into a small viewing room where the inmate is already strapped to a gurney. Cameron Todd Willingham was in jail, charged with murdering his daughters, when he supposedly confessed to a fellow inmate named Johnny Webb. The panel's review was interrupted several times over the last two years, however, and continues today. Despite that, as time went by, her opinion got swayed by court documents and other evidence. 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.". 1584 Words | 7 Pages. "Todd is guilty, the criminal justice system and the courts confirmed his guilt, and he should not be pardoned for his crimes," Kuykendall said in an exclusive statement to The Huffington Post. The Case Of Cameron Todd Willingham. I picked it up after finishing Trial By Fire, Granns story in The New Yorker that made the case that Cameron Todd Willingham, a man executed by the state of Texas in 2004 for murdering his three baby girls by arson, was innocent-that the fire was likely an accident. Having your wife, whod fought in your corner for so long, change her mind and convict you along with the powers-that-be-well, thats an experience that could easily bring out such a statement right before one is executed. "His last statement was the worst I had ever seen, she told The Mirror. Does knowing the full scope of his final statement change the way you feel about Willingham? The panels review was interrupted several times over the last two years, however, and continues today. I know I allowed the devil to rule my life. 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. I'm real sorry for it. He was convicted based on the testimony of forensic experts who said they had determined that the fire was intentionally set and a jailhouse informant who said Willingham had confessed to him. I have no revenge because hate wont solve anything. He was 36 years old. Willingham's supposed confession to his ex-wife on death row (which, it seems, never happened, but more on that in a minute.) On December 23, 1991, a house in Texas burned to the ground. Ardmore, Oklahoma (CNN) Cameron Todd Willingham's family here . Is it the wholetruth? 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. S2010 E14 - 1m 42s. 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. You don't have to. I am so sorry for what all of you had to go through. (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.). Based in part on Webb's testimony, Willingham was . Willingham's three daughters were killed in a fire a few days before Christmas of 1991. Trial by Fire is a 2018 American biographical drama film directed by Edward Zwick.The story is based upon David Grann's article "Trial by Fire" that appeared in The New Yorker in 2009. (Yes, they couldnt resist bringing in Clintonesque.). It seems like Cameron admitted to the couples tumultuous past first, acknowledging that their relationship was affected by their troubled backgrounds. 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 . In 1991, there was a fire at Willingham's home in Corsicana, Texas that quickly grew into a full blaze, completely engulfing the house. And on October 15, the Texas Forensic Science Commission discussed the case in depth at its regular meeting. I regret it because now I have to face the lethal injection while doing death row time. Cameron Todd Willingham, 23 at the time, told fire investigators he woke up as his wife was leaving shortly after 9 a.m., and heard their 1-year-old twins, Karmon and Kameron, crying. 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 However, there are some that do produce some heartfelt moments in their final minutes. Ron, give Peggy a hug for me. "I spent years not knowing, but Todd gave me that. ", Dennis Dowthitt Executed 3/7/01"I am so sorry for what y'all had to go through. For years, Michelle Lyons witnessed state killings in her roles as a journalist, then on the other side of the divide as the advocate for the state. Is Granns report the truth? His hopes and dreams became a fantasy. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. 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. However, Cameron maintained his innocence to his dying breath, and later evidence also suggested that he could have been wrongly executed. She reversed herself shortly before his 2004 execution, declaring that she now considered him guilty for murdering their 2-year-old daughter and her 1-year-old twin sisters. 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. I thank God for having patience with me. Warden. "I hope y'all don't have a wreck and kill yourselves. For years, even after they divorced, Stacy Kuykendall advocated for Cameron and his innocence. For other inquiries, Contact Us. 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. The meeting adjourned without action on the draft addendum, however. 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. Amnesty International. He was charged and convicted of capital murder and arson, and sentenced to death. Y'all take care and God bless you. Well Mom, sometimes it works out like this. 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. Yet, Michelle explained that by far the most chilling part of the process is when the inmates are given the opportunity to talk before they depart. You bitch; I hope you fucking rot, cunt. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Michelle Lyons is a reporter who covered hundreds of executions at a prison in Texas, She said the final words of Cameron Willingham, who killed his three daughters, were some of the worst she heard, Texas mom who witnessed more than 300 executions talks of her experience, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). According to an article by The New Yorker, Cameron was unfaithful, a heavy drinker, and physically assaulted Stacy at times, even while pregnant. Its the best magazine article I read this year. Also back in October, but apparently, near-totally unnoticed, there was a post over on the legal blog Crime and Consequences that finally did print all of Willingham's final words. 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. She told investigators that they hadn't been fighting and that her husband would never hurt their children. Also back in October, but apparently, near-totally unnoticed, there was a post over on the legal blog Crime and Consequences that finally did print all of Willinghams final words. I will be waiting for you. I picked it up after finishing Trial By Fire, Grann's story in The New Yorker that made the case that Cameron Todd Willingham, a man executed by the state of Texas in 2004 for murdering his . But she shifted her outlook shortly before his 2004 execution, proclaiming that she now found him guilty of deliberately setting fire to their house. Well, Grann doesnt actually say those words are the very last, but that is certainly the picture the reader gets. Its the best magazine article I read thisyear. Mon, Feb 27, 2023 LOGIN . 1 year old twins: Kameron, Karmon, and two year old: Amber. Everybody has been so good to me.I love all of you very much. "(In) the infamous words of my famous, legendary brother Nat Turner y'all kiss my black a**. 1 On 23 December 1991, Cameron Todd Willingham escaped a house fire only to be arrested for the death of his three daughters. Some say Cameron Todd Willingham was wrongfully convicted, and the court put an innocent man to death. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. I Killed Dirty John - Season 8, Episode 1 . Click on the document to see photos of the prisoner and a description of the crime. Two-year-old Amber Willingham, along with her younger twin sisters, Karmon and Kameron, died in a fire on December 23, 1991 in Corsicana, Texas. ", 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Michelle Lyons is a reporter who covered hundreds of executions at a prison in Texas, She said the final words of Cameron Willingham, who killed his three daughters, were some of the worst she heard, Texas mom who witnessed more than 300 executions talks of her experience, Texas mom who witnessed more than 300 executions tells how shes still haunted by child killers last words, Liquor CEO, 46, plummets to his death attempting backflip during Dead & Company concert at New York's Citi Field, Taliban orders British paratroopers out of Afghanistan in a weeks time or it's war, Giant Sturgeon Moon shines above lighthouse in breathtaking snap, Incredible snaps of gravity-defying stunt driver and fog-shrouded viaduct win at pic awards, Disgraced Gov Andrew Cuomo sends farewell message using NY's email alert system to brag about achievements in office, Afghan journalists beaten by Taliban & prevented from making evacuation flight, Giant tortoise thought to be vegetarian kills and eats bird in slo-mo attack, Calls for Biden to RESIGN over Afghanistan crisis grow louder as president jokes he 'may need work after this'. 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.". 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.. To my family and loved ones and friends, I thank all of you all for your support and I am sorry for the pain and hurt I have caused you. Background on the cases of 17 people exonerated through DNA testing after spending years on death row. Continue to pray for me, I am fine. Willingham maintained his innocence until the day he died, but his conviction was upheld on appeals in state and federal court. You know? To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The date is December 23, 1991, and 23-year-old Cameron Todd Willingham has fallen asleep while caring for his three young daughters, two-year-old Amber Louise Kuykendall and one-year-old twins . Cameron Todd Willingham Executed 2/17/04 "Yeah. 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. Cameron Todd Willingham And The Pentagram Arson via Texas Dept. Although Willingham fought for his innocence for 12 years on death row, he was executed in . ", Irineo Montoya Executed 6/18/97"Goodbye. Unaware of Hursts report, she had determined that Willingham was guilty. 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. In 2006, the Innocence Project formally submitted the case to the Texas Forensic Science Commission, asking the empowered state entity to launch a full investigation. "I gotta go, road dog. Anthony Graves don't even know anything about it. You know what I'm saying. Part of HuffPost Crime. Matthews. Warden Baggett, thank all of you so much. After a trial of more than two weeks, a Texas jury on Wednesday found that former state prosecutor John Jackson had not committed misconduct in the 1992 death penalty trial of Cameron Todd Willingham. I love you Gabby." The pursuit of justice has always been rooted in good will, to succeed those who have been wronged. 1. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. I love and cherish my friends and family. SCOTT HONEA Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Top: The aftermath of a . Stacy Kuykendall, his then-wife, played a . 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. 36-year-old Willingham flicked a middle finger at his wife, Stacy Kuykendall, as he was strapped down to the gurney for his execution in 2004. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Interesting and key material from the Cameron Todd Willingham case, with annotated highlights Willingham's Writings and a Drawing "You asked me what it was that kept me going, then answered the . . Yes, sir. Though she hadn't said this to investigators or during his trial, Kuykendall said she threatened to divorce Willingham the night before the fire. I dont blame Todds stepmom for fighting for her son," Kuykendall said in her statement. We both knew he had no future left! 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. I hope you f***ing rot in hell. I grew up in New Jersey. 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., 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Michelle Lyons has witnessed more than 300 people being executed, The first person she watched be killed was murderer Javier Cruz, Cameron Todd Willingham, delivered a foul-mouthed tirade directed at his ex-wife, Some inmates on death row refused to die quietly, Woman who watched 300 executions says prisoner told victims family I hope you die as she reveals their final words, Bristol explosion - Homes evacuated after 'suspicious' blast rocks street, Sister of solicitor, 59, who died of blood clot after AstraZeneca vaccine vows she will still get second dose herself, Couple baffled why their bathroom keeps flooding shocked to discover massive SNAKE blocking the drain, Join Bear Grylls in Week 2 of his 40 day military fitness challenge to get Brits into shape, US watching Russias doomsday nuke testing very closely as Putins new Arctic warfare terrifies the world, Calls to lift lockdown faster as Covid fades to lowest level since July as cases more than HALVED in week, 'Big cat' caught on CCTV in Cheshire after couple discover strange footprints and slain chicken. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from the Innocence Project: Take action: To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. The observations of a neighbor who was at the scene, but for . He often said, "Theres nothing left of me." The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. Gross negligence and a severe consequence they failed to act on their duties. The witness believed the bitch in question was Willinghams ex-wife Stacy, the mother of his daughters. This page is an online memorial to Cameron Todd Willigham, an innocent man who was executed by the state of Texas for a crime he did not commit. "Shortly before his execution, I spoke to Todd about the murders and he admitted his guilt to me.". "I read that Todds stepmom and cousin are asking the governor for a pardon. She denied him his wish, later telling a reporter, He took my kids away from me.. "I hope y'all don't have a wreck and kill yourselves. Willingham's actual final words were a venom-filled curse at his ex-wife as he attempted an obscene gesture, Cook reported. 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. The family of Cameron "Todd" Willingham, unjustly executed in 2004, urge to test DNA in Sedley Alley's casewhich was never done before Alley was executed in 2006. Image Credit: Stacy Kuykendall / Facebook. I love you Gabby. 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. Take care of my daughters, Kaneisha and Ieisha. Take me home, oh Lord. Before prison officials administer the lethal cocktail of drugs used to carry out executions, the condemned may say their final piece. Even after their divorce, she continued to proclaim Willingham's innocence, as in a 1999 recorded interview with a teacher researching the case. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. And it is a shame that it had to come to this. 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. I love you. 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. Cameron Todd Willingham was executed by the state of Texas on February 17 200 Ten years after that was first published it has now been adapted into a film starring British actor O'Connell as . 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. The tragic and controversial story of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was sentenced to death in Texas for killing his three children even after scientific evidence and expert testimony bolstered his claims of innocence. I pray Lord, please forgive me. 1. Do you value our journalism? Willingham, who said he was home napping at the time . That's the story of my whole life, that's what alcohol will do for you. Please avoid sharing any personal information in the comments below and join us in making this a hate-speech free and safe space for everyone. Here are 10 instances where executed prisoners were later found out to be innocent. Investigation. She denied him his wish, later telling a reporter, He took my kids away fromme.. Willingham, 23, the children's father, and the only . Michelle's notes say that his final words were: "The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man - convicted of a crime I did not commit. There was no Hollywood happy ending, no last-minute call from the governor . It turned out the forensic evidence was completely bogus, but he was executed anyway. For other inquiries, Contact Us. However, Cameron maintained his innocence to his dying breath, and later evidence also suggested that he could have been wrongly executed. While Willingham . I love you too Pop, keep your head up. Innocence Project Co-Director Barry Scheck responded that the the reasoning of the opinion is wrong and contrary to the clear intention of the legislature when it formed the Commission.. I am going to sleep. That was until she spoke to him shortly before his execution. Cameron Todd Willingham (January 9, 1968 - February 17, 2004) was an American man who was convicted and executed for the murder of his three young children by arson at the family home in Corsicana, Texas, on December 23, 1991.Since Willingham's 2004 execution, significant controversy has arisen over the legitimacy of the guilty verdict and the interpretation of the evidence that was used to . Stacy Kuykendall prefers to remain out of the spotlight. Willingham's former probation officer and a judge both directly refute any notion that he was a sociopath.
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