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679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. 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. He asked Stacy if his tombstone could be erected next to their childrens graves. I dont blame Todds stepmom for fighting for her son," Kuykendall said in her statement. "He directed so much vitriol towards her that the warden actually started the execution as he was talking to make him stop.". He was a former hitman who, despite not appearing a particularly sympathetic character, had become someone she had grown to like. 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I confess my sins. Last words: "The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. I'm real sorry for it. 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.". 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. She also added her experience about a man named Rodolfo Hernandez, that she felt had been treated harshly with his death sentence. Granns story establishes that, after years of supporting Willingham as he waited on death row, Stacy had lost her faith. 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. 2. Michelle's book Death Row: The Final Minutes, is available now. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Warden. He was confessed, he was one of the guilty ones. ", Cameron Todd Willingham Executed 2/17/04"Yeah. On February 17, 2004, the state of Texas executed Cameron Todd Willingham for the arson and murder of his three children, two-year-old Amber, and one-year-old twins, Karmon and . 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 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 in a 1991 house fire. Case creates controversy as governor resists and arson experts are challenged. "I hope you rot in hell, b--," Willingham said . Who are Cameron Willingham's children? For a complete list of contributors, click here. Fade to black. If my death gives you any peace, so be it.I want my friends to know it is not the way to die, but I belong to Jesus Christ. 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. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. 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. All Rights Reserved. Feb. 5, 20117 PM Central. Amnesty International. At the time of the fire, Kuykendall and Willingham were newlyweds. I sent a letter to somebody, you know a letter outlining what I feel about everything. 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 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. Scheidegger takes Grann to task for depicting an execution scene more dramatically in line with the articles assertion of Willinghams innocence, and suggests that the omitted vitriol points to a possible motive in the case-something the prosecution struggled to establish incourt. I have a good family. 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. 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 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. "It . I want to say goodbye again to my boys. I love you all and I will see you on the other side. Sunday, September 27, 2009. 1. I, I never was right after that incident happened. Michelle said: "Most of them don't talk for very long - there was one execution that I witnessed [the 2000 execution of Gary Graham], who spoke for over 20 minutes. Take care of yourselves. 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. To the West Family, I would just like to apologize for your loss. Months after Willingham was executed, the Chicago Tribune published an investigative report that raised questions about the forensic analysis. I love you mom. Exact date yellow weather warning for snow and ice forecast to hit UK - will you be affected? 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 I love you. 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 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. 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 . No way you "accidentally" leave a kid in a . Powered by WordPress.com VIP. I love my parents. ", 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. The pursuit of justice has always been rooted in good will, to succeed those who have been wronged. Sometimes officers were forced to gas them out of cells, strap up their heads and even give chase across prison grounds. View our online Press Pack. Unaware of Hursts report, she had determined that Willingham was guilty. The observations of a neighbor who was at the scene, but for . 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 . Ardmore, Oklahoma (CNN) Cameron Todd Willingham's family here . A letter to the editor revealed that there was more to his last words than that, however. Willingham was executed in February 2004 proclaiming his innocence and hoping aloud that his wife would "rot in . Through interviews with Willingham's friends and family, FRONTLINE tells the story of a troubled young man with a history of domestic violence who quickly became the prime suspect in his children . 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. (Dont worry, Brad Pitts making it into a movie.) And the statement as Grann reports it is consistent with what we might expect from a person who actually was innocent. 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. more to his last words than that,however, Choire I will be waiting for you. 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. Our system is set in place to protect the people, and acts as a model to prosecute the evil in society. That is it. 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. Todd had minor burns but no major injury. 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 . While Willingham . Even after their divorce, she continued to proclaim Willingham's innocence, as in a 1999 recorded interview with a teacher researching the case. of Criminal Justice. She denied him his wish, later telling a reporter, He took my kids away from me.. Its the best book I read this year. In 1991, there was a fire at Willingham's home in Corsicana, Texas that quickly grew into a full blaze, completely engulfing the house. Why did he go out into the world to see? Days before the expert was set to testify, however, Gov. ", Donald Aldrich Executed 10/12/04"Yes sir, I would. I was in their reformatory schools and penitentiary, but ah, they create monsters in there. O.K. "I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. Yes, if one defines truth in the Clintonesque way of defensible as not literally false. Matthews. Stacy Kuykendall, his then-wife, played a . 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. Bounce back, baby. . An investigative report in the September 7, 2009, issue of the New Yorker deconstructs every facet of the states case against Willingham. In a major turn in one of the country's most-noted death penalty cases, the State Bar of Texas has filed a formal accusation of misconduct against the county prosecutor who convicted Cameron Todd Willingham, a Texas man executed in 2004 for the arson murder of his three young daughters. Documents obtained by the Innocence Project show that state officials received that report but apparently did not act on it. I don't know what to say. (Yes, they couldnt resist bringing in Clintonesque.). 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. Excerpt follows. 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. 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. That isit. 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. The chilling memoirs, which she recently penned in her book Death Row: The Final Minutes, has now been fully . Thank you for visiting us. We had one guy that was telling jokes, we had another that was referencing a song by a Texas songwriter called 'The Road Goes On Forever And The Party Never Ends.. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? The panel's review was interrupted several times over the last two years, however, and continues today. However, Cameron maintained his innocence to his dying breath, and later evidence also suggested that he could have been wrongly executed. I just ask you to forgive me and ask the Lord to forgive me for allowing the devil to deceive me. Thank you for your love.To the Hancock family, I am sorry for the pain I caused you. My wife, who had been up a flight of stairs, beat me there. He reasserts his innocence, and his very last words are religious. 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. 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. Ask the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to investigate the wrongful execution of Cameron Todd Willingham! He reasserts his innocence, and his very last words are religious. Well Mom, sometimes it works out like this. Some say Cameron Todd Willingham was wrongfully convicted, and the court put an innocent man to death. Two weeks before Willingham's execution date in 2004, famed arson analyst Gerald Hurst took a fresh look at the case. Todd Willingham was executed by lethal injection in Texas in February, 2004. 1 On 23 December 1991, Cameron Todd Willingham escaped a house fire only to be arrested for the death of his three daughters. 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. His other relatives are fighting to clear his name. 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 . Oh Jesus, Lord God, take me home. 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.". 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. Willingham was sleeping when a fire broke out in his family's home. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. 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? 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 . ", 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.. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. I am going to sleep. Scheidegger takes Grann to task for depicting an execution scene more dramatically in line with the articles assertion of Willinghams innocence, and suggests that the omitted vitriol points to a possible motive in the case-something the prosecution struggled to establish in court. Resources in the case are below, along with background on the role of unvalidated forensics in wrongful convictions. You don't have to. Dal momento che Willingham's Nell'esecuzione del 2004 , sono sorte importanti polemiche sulla legittimit del verdetto di colpevolezza e sull'interpretazione . Yes, if one defines truth in the Clintonesque way of defensible as not literally false. "I read that Todds stepmom and cousin are asking the governor for a pardon. Before prison officials administer the lethal cocktail of drugs used to carry out executions, the condemned may say their final piece. It was me and me alone. 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. Anthony Graves had nothing to do with it. Read more on the case below, along with news coverage and key documents. The Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. But anyway I just wanted, right after that to apologize to you. 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. . Karla Faye Tucker Executed 2/3/98"Yes sir, I would like to say to all of you the Thornton family and Jerry Deans family that I am so sorry. On December 23, 1991, a house in Texas burned to the ground. ', "It was just such a crazy contrast to see in the space of 30 minutes, and it stuck with me.. In 2009, an arson expert hired by the commission issued a report finding that experts who testified at Willinghams trial should have known it was wrong at the time. He said, the only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime. With Jack O'Connell, Laura Dern, Emily Meade, Chris Coy. I write for the Awl, and also a book called Public Apology, for Grand Central Publishing. To my step father Paul, I love you. 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. He claimed he was innocent right up until his death, using his last words to say . The Fire That Started & Ended It All. But she shifted her outlook shortly before his 2004 execution, proclaiming that she now found him guilty of deliberately setting fire to their house. [Remaining portion of statement omitted due to profanity.]. I hope God will give you peace with this.Baby, I love you. "His last statement was the worst I had ever seen, she told The Mirror. 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. 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 am really so sorry about it, I really am. 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. That is it.". 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 . ", 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.. It seems like Cameron admitted to the couples tumultuous past first, acknowledging that their relationship was affected by their troubled backgrounds. The former journalist said: "You do have some that would just do outlandish stuff. 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. 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 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. Here are 10 instances where executed prisoners were later found out to be innocent. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice keeps a record of these last statements. This statement contradicted Stacys several others, especially as shed never mentioned such an argument earlier. David Grann, a staff writer at The New Yorker, has presented . I am at peace with God. His body was cremated and his ashes secretly spread on his children's graves by his parents. The arson finding that led to his 1992 conviction has been disputed by numerous fire experts. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. "Eugenia loved Todd, and I understand why she does not want to face the facts of what he did to our girls," Kuykendall said. 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. Is Granns report the truth? That was until she spoke to him shortly before his execution. He knew the thought of life wasnt ticking in his head. Inside were three children: one-year-old twins named Karmon and Kameron, and Amber, a 2 year old. He asked Stacy if his tombstone could be erected next to their childrens graves. Cameron Todd Willingham's words before his execution. And on October 15, the Texas Forensic Science Commission discussed the case in depth at its regular meeting. 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. Willingham's actual final words were a venom-filled curse at his ex-wife as he attempted an obscene gesture, Cook reported. 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 hopes and dreams became a fantasy. Despite expert testimony against the arson, and the jailbird informer's retracted confession, he was still sentenced to die. 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. 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. 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. 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. Like I said, I am sorry for hurting your family. Michelle said: "Most of them don't talk for very long - there was one execution that I witnessed [the 2000 execution of Gary Graham], who spoke for over 20 minutes. The undeniable facts of the Cameron Todd Willingham case are these: On Dec. 23, 1991, 2-year-old Amber Louise Kuykendall, and 1-year-old twins Karmon Diane Willingham and Kameron Marie Willingham died in a mid-morning house fire at 1213 W. 11th Ave. in Corsicana. I hope that you can forgive me. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. I regret it because now I have to face the lethal injection while doing death row time. Rick Perry turned down an eleventh-hour request to stop the execution. From Gods dust I came and to dust I will return, so the Earth shall become my throne.. 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. Willingham, 23, the children's father, and the only . 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. While we can not be sure about where Stacy currently resides, you can find her on her social media accounts, which she uses as a platform to ensure that no one will ever forget her late daughters. Willingham claimed he tried to rescue them, but the police didn't buy that story, as he was relatively unharmed. Well, Grann doesnt actually say those words are the very last, but that is certainly the picture the reader gets. You have been so good to me. 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. Might Willingham have been guilty after all? I miss them so much.". ", Angel Maturino Resendiz Executed 6/27/06"Yes sir. ", Marcus Cotton Executed 3/3/04 "Yes Warden, I do. Stacy Kuykendall prefers to remain out of the spotlight. "I hope y'all don't have a wreck and kill yourselves. You did not deserve this. God is real. 3. Tell my kids I love them. He said, The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. From Gods dust I came and to dust I will return-so the earth shall become my throne. EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Wife Doesn't Think Texas Man Was Wrongly Executed. I hope you rot in hell, bitch; I hope you fucking rot in hell, bitch. The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders, Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications, .css-o3g03s{color:black;}Published9:29,23 August 2021 BST| Last updated11:26,07 April 2022 BST. The former journalist said: "You do have some that would just do outlandish stuff. 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. Fire investigators determined that the fire was caused by arson and that Willingham used an accelerant to start the blaze. So now, lets find out where she is, shall we? Trial by Fire: Directed by Edward Zwick. And to my family, I love you. She told the Corsicana Daily Sun that a close examination of the evidence persuaded her that Willingham was not innocent. Website by MADEO.