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They knowingly put an innocent man to death. 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. Two weeks before Willingham's execution date in 2004, famed arson analyst Gerald Hurst took a fresh look at the case. I can't imagine losing two children. 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. 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.. Fight for the good. of Criminal Justice. 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? 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. Texas mom who witnessed more than 300 executions tells how she's still Cameron Todd Willingham Last Words. 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. All of you, all of you have truly been the best. 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. She told the Corsicana Daily Sun that a close examination of the evidence persuaded her that Willingham was not innocent. 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'. The former journalist said: "You do have some that would just do outlandish stuff. Days before the expert was set to testify, however, Gov. Even after their divorce, she continued to proclaim Willingham's innocence, as in a 1999 recorded interview with a teacher researching the case. I hope you will accept my apology, even though its too late. O.K. Willingham's Last Words - Crime and Consequences Blog For years, even after they divorced, Stacy Kuykendall advocated for Cameron and his innocence. 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. However, there are some that do produce some heartfelt moments in their final minutes. And the statement as Grann reports it is consistent with what we might expect from a person who actually was innocent. I know I allowed the devil to rule my life. I walked in here like a man and I am leaving here like a man. Faulty investigative techniques, redundant fire science, and swinging witness testimonies resulted in his . 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 . ", Irineo Montoya Executed 6/18/97"Goodbye. Cameron Todd Willingham - Wikipedia My wife had nothing to do with it. In 1991, when a fire destroyed the Willinghams home in Corsicana, Texas, and took the lives of 2-year-old Amber and 1-year-old twins Karmen and Kameron, Cameron was the only one who managed to escape. Cameron Todd Willingham: Did Texas execute an innocent man? - news 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 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 . Although Willingham fought for his innocence for 12 years on death row, he was executed in . S2010 E14 - 1m 42s. "They pulled guns out . "His last statement was the worst I had ever seen, she told The Mirror. "From God's dust I came and to dust I will return - so the earth shall become my throne. 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. I am really so sorry about it, I really am. He often said, "Theres nothing left of me." I am so sorry for what all of you had to go through. I was in their reformatory schools and penitentiary, but ah, they create monsters in there. 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. I have no revenge because hate wont solve anything. He was confessed, he was one of the guilty ones. The opinion prohibits the commission from investigating specific items of evidence that were tested or offered into evidence prior to September 1, 2005. 2. 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. Lyon recalled that warden signalled for the execution to begin while he continued hurling insults at her until he finally became silent. I am at peace with God. I hope you f***ing rot, c***. There was no Hollywood happy ending, no last-minute call from the governor . You've been the best. 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. Unaware of Hursts report, she had determined that Willingham was guilty. I, I never was right after that incident happened. Willingham was executed in February 2004 proclaiming his innocence and hoping aloud that his wife would "rot in . To my step father Paul, I love you. Theres nothing left but the memory of those who lay dead. "I hope y'all don't have a wreck and kill yourselves. Why did he go out into the world to see? 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. Willingham, 23, the children's father, and the only . It seems like Cameron admitted to the couples tumultuous past first, acknowledging that their relationship was affected by their troubled backgrounds. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Texas prosecutor accused of misconduct for role in famous execution It was me and me alone. I'm real sorry for it. Cameron Todd Willingham, delivered a foul-mouthed tirade directed at his ex-wife. Is Granns report the truth? Thank you for your love.To the Hancock family, I am sorry for the pain I caused you. Despite that, as time went by, her opinion got swayed by court documents and other evidence. "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. 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 . more to his last words than that, however. I gotta go, road dog. I gotta go, road dog. Before prison officials administer the lethal cocktail of drugs used to carry out executions, the condemned may say their final piece. Everybody has been so good to me.I love all of you very much. I never knew I would take a life and commit a crime. Inside were three children: one-year-old twins named Karmon and Kameron, and Amber, a 2 year old. 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 . (Yes, they couldnt resist bringing in Clintonesque.). On October 29, 1992, he was sentenced to death. For other inquiries, Contact Us. 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 . You know what I'm saying. "He directed so much vitriol towards her that the warden actually started the execution as he was talking to make him stop," Lyons said. "You b****. 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. 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. 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. 3. Texas mom who witnessed more than 300 executions tells how she's still 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. ", Angel Maturino Resendiz Executed 6/27/06"Yes sir. Is it the whole truth? Michelle's book Death Row: The Final Minutes, is available now. I will see you all when you get there. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. That poignant end reads almost like a Hollywood script, doesnt it? 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. She also added her experience about a man named Rodolfo Hernandez, that she felt had been treated harshly with his death sentence. . 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. 1584 Words | 7 Pages. 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. In that case, Ernest Willis was exonerated and freed from prison because the forensic evidence was not valid. However, Cameron maintained his innocence to his dying breath, and later evidence also suggested that he could have been wrongly executed. 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. 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. Willingham, who said he was home napping at the time . 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, 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. Cameron Todd Willingham (January 9, 1968 - February 17, 2004) was an American man who was convicted and executed by lethal injection for the murder of his three young children by arson in Corsicana, Texas, on December 23, 1991. That's it, I have nothing else to say. I can only imagine how lonesome he was all by himself. 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. 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. Letter from a witness casts further doubt on 2004 Texas execution After all, she also agreed to take to the stands to state the same during his trial. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. On April 15, 2011, the TFSC issued its final report in the Willingham / Willis cases. Perhaps most notably, Hurst was able to explain the presence of lighter fluid at the scene: a charcoal grill which had been used . This statement contradicted Stacys several others, especially as shed never mentioned such an argument earlier. Willingham Execution: What Texas Gov. Perry Knew and When | TIME.com While 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.. "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. 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Last words: "The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. 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 Willingham's ex-wife tearfully reiterated her contention Wednesday . I hope God will give you peace with this.Baby, I love you. Cameron Todd Willingham who was born on the 9th of January 1968 passed away on the 17th of February 2004. With Jack O'Connell, Laura Dern, Emily Meade, Chris Coy. 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. 2023 Innocence Project. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 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. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. The arson finding that led to his 1992 conviction has been disputed by numerous fire experts. 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. "His wife was watching from the witness room and I was . 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 . Fact Check: The Willingham Case - The Texas Observer A WOMAN who witnessed almost 300 people be put to death has revealed that one inmate told the victims family I hope you die.. And on October 15, the Texas Forensic Science Commission discussed the case in depth at its regular meeting. Here are five crucial facts about the case. In 2009, she unleashed a startling accusation that Willingham confessed the crime to her when she visited him on death row. Cameron Todd Willingham's words before his execution. 4 Forgotten Cases Of Satanic Rape And Murder That Turned Out To Be I hope you f***ing rot in hell. Trial by Fire: True story of innocent dad executed for killing his 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 . ", 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'. Willingham was convicted of murdering his three daughters by arson in 1992 and was executed on February 17, 2004. In September 2011, the TFSC met to consider an addendum to its final report on the Willingham and Willis cases. 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. Trial by Fire (2018 film) - Wikipedia "(In) the infamous words of my famous, legendary brother Nat Turner y'all kiss my black a**. Abul, behold your son, and Anitra, behold your mother. Last Words: "All Right, Warden, Let's Do It." | The Texas Tribune "I hope you rot in hell, b--," Willingham said . Yes, sir. All Rights Reserved. 1 On 23 December 1991, Cameron Todd Willingham escaped a house fire only to be arrested for the death of his three daughters. The Innocence Project assembled five of the nations leading independent arson experts to review the evidence in the case, and this prestigious group issued a 48-page report finding that none of the scientific analysis used to convict Willingham was valid.