The arson finding that led to his 1992 conviction has been disputed by numerous fire experts. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. For other inquiries, Contact Us. 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. 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. ", 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'. 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. Might Willingham have been guilty after all? The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man-convicted of a crime I did not commit. more to his last words than that,however, Choire The chilling memoirs, which she recently penned in her book Death Row: The Final Minutes, has now been fully . This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. 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. Macher, Dusty "He directed so much vitriol towards her that the warden actually started the execution as he was talking to make him stop," Lyons said. Read more about the TFSC and download key documents relating to the panel here. Is it the wholetruth? With Jack O'Connell, Laura Dern, Emily Meade, Chris Coy. That is it. I can only imagine how lonesome he was all by himself. By an 11-to-1 vote, a Navarro County jury rejected claims by the State Bar of Texas that Jackson made false statements . (Yes, they couldnt resist bringing in Clintonesque.). "His last statement was the worst I had ever seen, she told The Mirror. 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. View our online Press Pack. I dont blame Todds stepmom for fighting for her son," Kuykendall said in her statement. God is real. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. 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. 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. 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. Unaware of Hursts report, she had determined that Willingham was guilty. Who are Cameron Willingham's children? ", George Whitaker III Executed 11/12/08"First off I'd like to say to Mr. and Mrs. Carrier, I apologize for your pain and suffering. Willingham was executed by lethal injection in Huntsville on February 17, 2004. I gotta go, road dog. However, Cameron maintained his innocence to his dying breath, and later evidence also suggested that he could have been wrongly executed. Its the best book I read this year. The process usually sees witnesses and the media brought into a small viewing room where the inmate is already strapped to a gurney. Dal momento che Willingham's Nell'esecuzione del 2004 , sono sorte importanti polemiche sulla legittimit del verdetto di colpevolezza e sull'interpretazione . Sometimes officers were forced to gas them out of cells, strap up their heads and even give chase across prison grounds. 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. I love and cherish my friends and family. Website by MADEO. 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. 2. [Remaining portion of statement omitted due to profanity.]. 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 . Love life; live long. If I was y'all, I would have killed me. I am at peace with God. We both knew he had no future left! "I read that Todds stepmom and cousin are asking the governor for a pardon. "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. 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. Anthony Graves had nothing to do with it. ', "It was just such a crazy contrast to see in the space of 30 minutes, and it stuck with me.. He knew the thought of life wasnt ticking in his head. ", Irineo Montoya Executed 6/18/97"Goodbye. Stacy Kuykendall prefers to remain out of the spotlight. My life is all I can give. 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 see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. His hopes and dreams became a fantasy. In July 2011, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued an opinion in response to questions from the commission about jurisdiction and authority. 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.. On December 23, 1991, a house in Texas burned to the ground. You bitch; I hope you fucking rot, cunt. Perhaps most notably, Hurst was able to explain the presence of lighter fluid at the scene: a charcoal grill which had been used . I pray Lord, please forgive me. You know? I don't deserve to cause you pain. That isit. The former journalist said: "You do have some that would just do outlandish stuff. Standing in the way of a pardon for a Texas man that his family considers was wrongly convicted and executed is his ex-wife. 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. Investigation. Help us advocate for the innocent by sharing the latest news from the Innocence Project. 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. Justice denial in Uganda is common due to the existence of a non-indepedent judicial system and rampant corruption that has made the system rot and the question remains of how can justice be administered free and fairly regardless of ones status in the society? Granns story establishes that, after years of supporting Willingham as he waited on death row, Stacy had lost her faith. (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.). Why was the prosecutor and governor not charged with manslaughter? Cameron Todd Willingham And The Pentagram Arson via Texas Dept. Oh Jesus, Lord God, take me home. Warden. 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. Documents obtained by the Innocence Project show that state officials received that report but apparently did not act on it. From Gods dust I came and to dust I will return, so the Earth shall become my throne.. The Fire That Started & Ended It All. There is a central room and two witnesss rooms divided by a wall, ensuring the two groups never meet. Some may choose to apologise for their crimes, others take their own route, she also explained. of Criminal Justice. I love my parents. I want to say goodbye again to my boys. Anthony Graves don't even know anything about it. 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. 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 . 2023 Innocence Project. Background on the cases of 17 people exonerated through DNA testing after spending years on death row. ", 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.. Thank Chaplain Taylor and Jane. 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. 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. 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. 2. Despite expert testimony against the arson, and the jailbird informer's retracted confession, he was still sentenced to die. I will wait for you. Before prison officials administer the lethal cocktail of drugs used to carry out executions, the condemned prisoners are offered the chance to say their final piece. Show us with your support. She told the Corsicana Daily Sun that a close examination of the evidence persuaded her that Willingham was not innocent. However, there are some that do produce some heartfelt moments in their final minutes. "Shortly before his execution, I spoke to Todd about the murders and he admitted his guilt to me.". But she shifted her outlook shortly before his 2004 execution, proclaiming that she now found him guilty of deliberately setting fire to their house. Image Credit: Stacy Kuykendall / Facebook. On December 23, 1991, a fire destroyed the Corsicana, Texas, home Cameron Todd Willingham shared with his wife and three daughters, killing the three girls. Cameron Todd Willingham (9 gennaio 1968 - 17 febbraio 2004) stato un uomo americano condannato e giustiziato per l'omicidio dei suoi tre figli per incendio doloso nella casa di famiglia a Corsicana, in Texas , il 23 dicembre 1991. O.K. Willingham said he was asleep in the home when the fire started and always maintained his innocence. He asked Stacy if his tombstone could be erected next to their childrens graves. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. 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. 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. Though, in the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, Willingham has faced the harsh reality . Well, Grann doesnt actually say those words are the very last, but that is certainly the picture the reader gets. Todd granted the inspectors permission to search the property. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, 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, Inside sinister rise of pink cocaine sweeping UK nightclubs as warring cartels battle to control 'Coca Cola of drugs', We live on Britain's WORST street - it's rife with drug addicts, crime & prostitutes we're terrified for our lives, Man 'naked and covered in blood' arrested before mum found 'murdered' at home as neighbours reveal hearing screams, Leicester 'explosion': Listen to massive 'sonic' boom that shook homes and rattled windows. Thank you for visiting us. 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 . Willingham, 23, the children's father, and the only . Here is what they sent him: Yeah. Willingham's supposed confession to his ex-wife on death row (which, it seems, never happened, but more on that in a minute.) Click on the document to see photos of the prisoner and a description of the crime. 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 . His body was cremated and his ashes secretly spread on his children's graves by his parents. I will wait for you in Heaven. And ah, I believe I'm going home. I love you mom. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. Willingham, who was asleep when the fire started, survived. I hope you rot in hell, bitch; I hope you fucking rot in hell, bitch. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Before prison officials administer the lethal cocktail of drugs used to carry out executions, the condemned may say their final piece. Sunday, September 27, 2009. 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. A Troubled Young Man | "Death by Fire". At the time of the fire, Kuykendall and Willingham were newlyweds. 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 was a former hitman who, despite not appearing a particularly sympathetic character, had become someone she had grown to like. 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. It turned out the forensic evidence was completely bogus, but he was executed anyway. On 23 December 1991, the Corsicana home of Cameron Willingham burned. 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. Last Statement: Yeah. 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. According to an article by The New Yorker, Cameron was unfaithful, a heavy drinker, and physically assaulted Stacy at times, even while pregnant. SCOTT HONEA Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Top: The aftermath of a . Lyon recalled that warden signalled for the execution to begin while he continued hurling insults at her until he finally became silent. He was a former hitman who, despite not appearing a particularly sympathetic character, had become someone she had grown to like. Inside were three children: one-year-old twins named Karmon and Kameron, and Amber, a 2 year old. Resources in the case are below, along with background on the role of unvalidated forensics in wrongful convictions. That process could take months. They knowingly put an innocent man to death. Theres nothing left but the memory of those who lay dead. I walked in here like a man and I am leaving here like a man. 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.".