Cameron Todd Willingham was in jail, charged with murdering his daughters, when he supposedly confessed to a fellow inmate named Johnny Webb. (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.). I love you. However, there are some that do produce some heartfelt moments in their final minutes. To the West Family, I would just like to apologize for your loss. But others she admits are very hard to forget as she recalled the horrific final words of one inmate. That was until she spoke to him shortly before his execution. In the days following the devastation, a full investigation would take place. 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. [Remaining portion of statement omitted due to profanity.]. God is real. 1. . 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Bounce back, baby. And on October 15, the Texas Forensic Science Commission discussed the case in depth at its regular meeting. 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 he was being executed. Show us with your support. 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. 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He was known as an American man who was convicted and executed after he murdered three young children by arson at the family home in Corsicana, Texas, on the 23rd of . 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. Is it the whole truth? The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man-convicted of a crime I did not commit. Website by MADEO. Wake up to the day's most important news. 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. "His wife was watching from the witness room and I was told later by the chaplaincy that she had come to witness not on his behalf but as one of the victims. Willingham's three daughters were killed in a fire a few days before Christmas of 1991. My wife had nothing to do with it. At the state prison in Huntsville that housed the execution chamber, Lyons saw the harrowing arbitration of justice as hundreds of criminals were put to death by lethal injection. 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 . Who are Cameron Willingham's children? I stole two lives and I know it was precious to ya'll. "I hope you rot in hell, b--," Willingham said . A Troubled Young Man | "Death by Fire". Her words could hinder the latest attempts by Willingham's stepmother Eugenia Willingham and cousin Patricia Willingham Cox to alter his record. 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. examination of the evidence persuaded her. 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. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 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. But by 2004, she had declared Willingham guilty. I love you, Gabby.". I know Im missing somebody, but if theres anything I have left to say, it would be that I wish I had a Shakespearean vocabulary, but since I was raised in TDC, I missed out on some of my vocabulary.If my words can persuade you to discontinue this practice of executing people, please do so. I have been persecuted for twelve years for something I did not do. 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.. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice keeps a record of these last statements. "Shortly before his execution, I spoke to Todd about the murders and he admitted his guilt to me.". 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.. Cameron Todd Willingham, 36, was executed by lethal injection on 17 February 2004 in Huntsville, Texas for the murder of his three children. I love you mom. I am so sorry for what all of you had to go through. On 23 December 1991, the Corsicana home of Cameron Willingham burned. Continue to pray for me, I am fine. In 2004, Cameron Todd Willingham was executed afters years of trying to appeal his conviction, maintaining his innocence until the end. I. I. NTRODUCTION. You know? To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. You've been the best. (That blog is a project of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, which . 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. I am going to be face to face with Jesus now. 1584 Words | 7 Pages. At the trial, the prosecutor asserted that Willingham wanted to . Mon, Feb 27, 2023 LOGIN . For other inquiries, Contact Us. Well, Grann doesnt actually say those words are the very last, but that is certainly the picture the reader gets. 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. Along with the Willingham case, the Innocence Project submitted information about another arson case in Texas where identical evidence was used to send another man to death row. Im not sure Im entirely comfortable with the way Grann structured his ending, in light of Willinghams full statement-but Im not content with Scheideggers takeaway, either. Inside were three children: one-year-old twins named Karmon and Kameron, and Amber, a 2 year old. In September 2011, the TFSC met to consider an addendum to its final report on the Willingham and Willis cases. ", Irineo Montoya Executed 6/18/97"Goodbye. Y'all take care and God bless you. My grandmother is the pillar of the community. Abul, behold your son, and Anitra, behold your mother. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. O.K. While Willingham . February 8, 2023 by Blessed Antwi. Days before the expert was set to testify, however, Gov. It was me and me alone. Below are some final statements of convicted murderers. One-year-old twins Karmon and Kameron, as well as two-year-old Amber, were killed in the blaze. 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. He said, the only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime. The case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed in Texas in 2004 and whom I wrote about for The New Yorker last month, has taken another strange twist. "I hope y'all don't have a wreck and kill yourselves. According to an article by The New Yorker, Cameron was unfaithful, a heavy drinker, and physically assaulted Stacy at times, even while pregnant. Take care. I have a good family. Here is what they senthim: Yeah. Apart from a few rare interviews, she doesnt let her past interfere with her day to day life. by Brandi Grissom I miss them so much.". The Fire That Started & Ended It All. Some may choose to apologise for their crimes, others take their own route, she also explained. Thank Chaplain Taylor and Jane. Based in part on Webb's testimony, Willingham was . The Texas parole board checks with victims' families, the prosecutor and other people involved in the original murder case before deciding whether to recommend that the governor issue a pardon. Investigation. Cameron Todd Willingham Last Words. I Killed Dirty John - Season 8, Episode 1 Her Facebook page asserts that she is The mother of three daughters that were murdered by their father Cameron todd Willingham 12/23/1991, whereas her Instagram showcases just how much she misses her young girls and how shell continue to shout her truth from the highest peaks. 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. On the night of January 8, 1992, two weeks after the fire, Willingham was riding in a car with Stacy when SWAT teams surrounded them, forcing them to the side of the road. 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. 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. However, Cameron maintained his innocence to his dying breath, and later evidence also suggested that he could have been wrongly executed. I hope you rot in hell, bitch; I hope you fucking rot in hell, bitch. 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. 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. He is fixing to find out some deep things that are real. 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. I want to say goodbye again to my boys. Anthony Graves don't even know anything about it. Then, turning to his wife, who was behind a screen just a few metres away, he said: "I hope you rot in hell, b****. Here are five crucial facts about the case. 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. Cameron Todd Willingham And The Pentagram Arson via Texas Dept. And the statement as Grann reports it is consistent with what we might expect from a person who actually was innocent. CORSICANA More than five years after his final act from the Texas death chamber gurney was a profanity-filled tirade, the murder case of executed inmate Cameron Todd Willingham refuses to die. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from the Innocence Project: Take action: The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. 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. Cameron Todd Willingham's last words before the state of Texas executed him are amongst the ones that have stayed with Michelle Lyons . 1. That's it, I have nothing else to say. Documents obtained by the Innocence Project show that state officials received that report but apparently did not act on it. Granns story establishes that, after years of supporting Willingham as he waited on death row, Stacy had lost herfaith. 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. However, she later worked as an official spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice where she witnessed the final few hours of the inmates life. 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. 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. He said, The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. 1 On 23 December 1991, Cameron Todd Willingham escaped a house fire only to be arrested for the death of his three daughters. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. 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. His wife was at the Salvation Army buying Christmas presents for the girls. "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. 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. 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. Like I said, I am sorry for hurting your family. Standing in the way of a pardon for a Texas man that his family considers was wrongly convicted and executed is his ex-wife. I hope you rot in hell, bitch; I hope you fucking rot in hell, bitch. S2010 E14 - 1m 42s. 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 . Willingham's supposed confession to his ex-wife on death row (which, it seems, never happened, but more on that in a minute.) "He directed so much vitriol towards her that the warden actually started the execution as he was talking to make him stop," Lyons said. Is it the wholetruth? Amnesty International. Last words: "The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. He knew the thought of life wasnt ticking in his head. We both knew he had no future left! An investigative report in the September 7, 2009, issue of the New Yorker deconstructs every facet of the states case against Willingham. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. But she shifted her outlook shortly before his 2004 execution, proclaiming that she now found him guilty of deliberately setting fire to their house. "His wife was watching from the witness room and I was . The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has kept a record of these statements since 1982, when the state resumed the use of the death penalty. "I hope y'all don't have a wreck and kill yourselves. On October 14, Texas Judge Charlie Baird held a hearing in the Willingham case to determine whether to hold a court of inquiry. 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. I have made peace with God. I hope that you can forgive me. I can't imagine losing two children. more to his last words than that, however. I love you all and I will see you on the other side. Willingham, who was asleep when the fire started, survived. 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. All Rights Reserved. Stacy Kuykendall, his then-wife, played a significant role in the entire matter by changing her beliefs as well. I am really so sorry about it, I really am. No way you "accidentally" leave a kid in a . Photo courtesy Todd Willingham . They knowingly put an innocent man to death. She denied him his wish, later telling a reporter, He took my kids away from me.. (Dont worry, Brad Pitts making it into a movie.) The process usually sees witnesses and the media brought into a small viewing room where the inmate is already strapped to a gurney. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. Lyon recalled that warden signalled for the execution to begin while he continued hurling insults at her until he finally became silent. Fight for the good. I want to remember Patsy Buntion, Gladys and a lot more friends.I want to thank the prosecutor in my case; it took courage for him to do what he did but he did what he did because he believed in the judicial system.Im not ready to go, but I have no choice; I sent several letters to my family; theyll be very moving when you get them. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. If the citizens dont do away with the death penalty, Texas wont be a safe place to be. His wife, 22-year old Stacy Willingham, had gone out early that morning to do some last-minute Christmas shopping. "His wife was watching from the witness room and I was told later by the chaplaincy that she had come to witness not on his behalf but as one of the victims, she added. Cameron Todd Willingham's stepmother and cousin, . Though she hadn't said this to investigators or during his trial, Kuykendall said she threatened to divorce Willingham the night before the fire. Its the best book I read this year. "Mothers love their children and always will, no matter what happens in their lives. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Yes, if one defines truth in the Clintonesque way of defensible as not literally false. I want to ask if it is in your heart to forgive me. So I hope that you don't find peace, not in my death, but in Christ. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. She also added her experience about a man named Rodolfo Hernandez, that she felt had been treated harshly with his death sentence. You have been so good to me. Matthews. Cameron, Todd Willinghammurdered his children by arson in 1991, despite numerous attempts to clear his name, I guess all I can do is close this episode with Todd's last words before he was executed. Warden. Stacy Kuykendall, his then-wife, played a . 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. Why did he go out into the world to see? I love you Gabby. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. He was 36 years old. Fade to black. ", Raymond Kinnamon Executed 12/11/94"guys like them got tied up in something like this. ', "It was just such a crazy contrast to see in the space of 30 minutes, and it stuck with me.. 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. ", 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. Even after their divorce, she continued to proclaim Willingham's innocence, as in a 1999 recorded interview with a teacher researching the case. I dont blame Todds stepmom for fighting for her son," Kuykendall said in her statement. 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. Thanks to Carolyn and Gloria, who have been my friends for over four years. 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. (Dont worry, Brad Pitts making it into a movie.) The former journalist said: "You do have some that would just do outlandish stuff. After all, she also agreed to take to the stands to state the same during his trial. 3. Feb. 5, 20117 PM Central. Todd Willingham was executed by lethal injection in Texas in February, 2004. ", Marcus Cotton Executed 3/3/04 "Yes Warden, I do. 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 he was being executed. Willingham, 23, the children's father, and the only . He was charged and convicted of capital murder and arson, and sentenced to death. 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. However, she later worked as an official spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice where she witnessed the final few hours of the inmates life. Some say Cameron Todd Willingham was wrongfully convicted, and the court put an innocent man to death. Do you value our journalism? Thirteen years later, in the days leading up to Willinghams execution, his attorneys sent the governor and the Board of Pardon and Parole a report from Gerald Hurst, a nationally recognized arson expert, saying that Willinghams conviction was based on erroneous forensic analysis. What was did, cannot be undone. Two weeks before Willingham's execution date in 2004, famed arson analyst Gerald Hurst took a fresh look at the case. He was a former hitman who, despite not appearing a particularly sympathetic character, had become someone she had grown to like. I love my parents. In 2009, an arson . Ardmore, Oklahoma (CNN) Cameron Todd Willingham's family here . Cameron Todd Willingham, delivered a foul-mouthed tirade directed at his ex-wife. 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. State bar files charges more than 10 years after execution. But anyway I just wanted, right after that to apologize to you. I have been persecuted for twelve years for something I did not do. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. Fire investigators determined that the fire was caused by arson and that Willingham used an accelerant to start the blaze. The witness believed the bitch in question was Willinghams ex-wife Stacy, the mother of his daughters. He survived, as did his wife, who wasn't in the house at . Ask the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to investigate the wrongful execution of Cameron Todd Willingham! Background on the cases of 17 people exonerated through DNA testing after spending years on death row. Faulty investigative techniques, redundant fire science, and swinging witness testimonies resulted in his . Last week, the pair filed a petition with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend a pardon for Willingham. "It . You can learn more about how we consider cases here. Willingham, who was asleep when the fire started, survived. Granns story establishes that, after years of supporting Willingham as he waited on death row, Stacy had lost her faith. She denied him his wish, later telling a reporter, He took my kids away fromme.. I hope you will accept my apology, even though its too late. 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. 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. Todd had minor burns but no major injury. 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 . In July 2011, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued an opinion in response to questions from the commission about jurisdiction and authority. Theres nothing left but the memory of those who lay dead. I will see you all when you get there. ", Earl Behringer Executed 6/11/97"Its a good day to die. For a complete list of contributors, click here. The witness believed the bitch in question was Willinghams ex-wife Stacy, the mother of his daughters. 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. The process usually sees witnesses and the media brought into a small viewing room where the inmate is already strapped to a gurney. Excerpt follows. Gracie was beautiful and Tiffany was beautiful. 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. And the statement as Grann reports it is consistent with what we might expect from a person who actually was innocent. Sunday, September 27, 2009. Months after Willingham was executed, the Chicago Tribune published an investigative report that raised questions about the forensic analysis. But Stacy Kuykendall knew Todd better than anyone, and she's convinced that he was a monster who was guilty as charged. "Eugenia loved Todd, and I understand why she does not want to face the facts of what he did to our girls," Kuykendall said. who was convicted of his wife's murder in 1987 and spent nearly 25 years in prison before DNA testing led to his exoneration in 2011, appealed . "(In) the infamous words of my famous, legendary brother Nat Turner y'all kiss my black a**. 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.
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