Warden Baggett, thank all of you so much. There is a central room and two witnesss rooms divided by a wall, ensuring the two groups never meet. 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. That is it.". The Fire That Started & Ended It All. Willingham, a husband and father of three girls managed to escape the house but his daughters all died. My wife had nothing to do with it. From God's dust I came and to dust I will return so the earth shall become my throne. Handout. I have been persecuted 12 years for something I did not do. . That was until she spoke to him shortly before his execution. Willingham said he was asleep in the home when the fire started and always maintained his innocence. Momma, I will always love you. (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.). Is it the whole truth? Willingham's ex-wife said that he . Cameron Todd Willingham. Since the pair had been together for about four years and had tied the knot just months before, when Stacy told officers that Cameron would never hurt their children and that they hadnt been fighting, she wasnt challenged. What would he say to the victims family? The former journalist said: "You do have some that would just do outlandish stuff. Yes, if one defines truth in the Clintonesque way of defensible as not literally false. Fight for the good. Thank you for your love.To the Hancock family, I am sorry for the pain I caused you. His wife, 22-year old Stacy Willingham, had gone out early that morning to do some last-minute Christmas shopping. Warden. I thank God for having patience with me. 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. 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.. I have been persecuted for twelve years for something I did not do. "Shortly before his execution, I spoke to Todd about the murders and he admitted his guilt to me.". Cameron Todd Willingham, delivered a foul-mouthed tirade directed at his ex-wife. He was a former hitman who, despite not appearing a particularly sympathetic character, had become someone she had grown to like. 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. The chilling memoirs, which she recently penned in her book Death Row: The Final Minutes, has now been fully revealed, with every experience unique in its own right. 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. 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. 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.". Willingham was executed in February 2004 proclaiming his innocence and hoping aloud that his wife would "rot in . As incomprehensible as it seems, Scheidegger wrote, we know that some fathers do kill their young children, and anger at the mother is one commonreason.. 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? "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. As previously revealed by The Sun, Lyons says this can sometimes be an arduous process as some refuse to die quietly. (Download the full trial transcripts here.). 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. While waiting for permission to finish the case from the Third Court of Appeals, Baird put together the document that "orders the exoneration of Cameron Todd Willingham for murdering his three daughters," because of "overwhelming, credible and reliable evidence" presented during a one-day hearing in Austin in October 2010. 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. 1. . I hope you will accept my apology, even though its too late. 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. 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. It seems like Cameron admitted to the couples tumultuous past first, acknowledging that their relationship was affected by their troubled backgrounds. 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. The case was originally prosecuted by the Navarro County district attorney. 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. Matthews. 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. Like I said, I am sorry for hurting your family. 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. Read more about the TFSC and download key documents relating to the panel here. The process usually sees witnesses and the media brought into a small viewing room where the inmate is already strapped to a gurney. 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. I am going to sleep. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. "You b****. That is it. Cameron Todd Willingham was convicted of murdering his three children in 1991. The panel's review was interrupted several times over the last two years, however, and continues today. I walked in here like a man and I am leaving here like a man. 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. 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. I knew I would pay with struggle and strife, but I never thought the cost would be me losing my life.Written through his sister, Michelle Winn, Robert Carter Executed 5/31/00"To the Davis family, I am sorry for all of the pain that I caused your family. Then, turning to his wife, who was behind a screen just a few metres away, he said: "I hope you rot in hell, b****. That's the story of my whole life, that's what alcohol will do for you. And it is a shame that it had to come to this. "I spent years not knowing, but Todd gave me that. Read more on the case below, along with news coverage and key documents. 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. The pursuit of justice has always been rooted in good will, to succeed those who have been wronged. That isit. Continue to pray for me, I am fine. "He directed so much vitriol towards her that the warden actually started the execution as he was talking to make him stop.". "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. I'm sorry, and I really mean that, it's not just words. 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 . Before prison officials administer the lethal cocktail of drugs used to carry out executions, the condemned may say their final piece. 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. Amnesty International. He claimed he was innocent right up until his death, using his last words to say . I gotta go, road dog. And on October 15, the Texas Forensic Science Commission discussed the case in depth at its regular meeting. Bounce back, baby. "He directed so much vitriol towards her that the warden actually started the execution as he was talking to make him stop," Lyons said. Sometimes officers were forced to gas them out of cells, strap up their heads and even give chase across prison grounds. I can only imagine how lonesome he was all by himself. I live in New York. He survived, as did his wife, who wasn't in the house at . He was put to death for allegedly taking his daughters' lives by intentionally setting fire to their home. He was charged and convicted of capital murder and arson, and sentenced to death. For other inquiries, Contact Us. By Maurice Possley. Here are 10 instances where executed prisoners were later found out to be innocent. 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. 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. He reasserts his innocence, and his very last words are religious. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. SCOTT HONEA Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Top: The aftermath of a . ", James Moreland Executed 1/27/00"Dad, I love you both. 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. I love all of you very much. The witness believed the bitch in question was Willinghams ex-wife Stacy, the mother of his daughters. State bar files charges more than 10 years after execution. 1 year old twins: Kameron, Karmon, and two year old: Amber. Perhaps most notably, Hurst was able to explain the presence of lighter fluid at the scene: a charcoal grill which had been used . Cameron Todd Willingham, 36, was executed by lethal injection on 17 February 2004 in Huntsville, Texas for the murder of his three children. Willingham, who was asleep when the fire started, survived. 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. According to an article by The New Yorker, Cameron was unfaithful, a heavy drinker, and physically assaulted Stacy at times, even while pregnant. Part of HuffPost Crime. 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. 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 . ", Richard J. Wilkerson Executed 8/31/93"Seeing Through the Eyes of a Death Row Inmate"Sometime I wonder why, why he? The chilling memoirs, which she recently penned in her book Death Row: The Final Minutes, has now been fully . In that case, Ernest Willis was exonerated and freed from prison because the forensic evidence was not valid. Cameron Todd Willingham And The Pentagram Arson via Texas Dept. In September 2011, the TFSC met to consider an addendum to its final report on the Willingham and Willis cases. Macher, Dusty . "I read that Todds stepmom and cousin are asking the governor for a pardon. In July 2011, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued an opinion in response to questions from the commission about jurisdiction and authority. His body was cremated and his ashes secretly spread on his children's graves by his parents. "I hope you rot in hell, b--," Willingham said . I am going to be face to face with Jesus now. Its the best magazine article I read thisyear. 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. My life is all I can give. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. My grandmother is the pillar of the community. Stacy was unharmed as she was out Christmas shopping at the time. 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 . You have been so good to me. So now, lets find out where she is, shall we? On October 28, 2011, the commission issued the report addendum. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. That poignant end reads almost like a Hollywood script, doesnt it? If I was y'all, I would have killed me. 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. Willingham's former probation officer and a judge both directly refute any notion that he was a sociopath. All Rights Reserved. ", Irineo Montoya Executed 6/18/97"Goodbye. Yesterday, Willingham's former wife . I am really so sorry about it, I really am. Fade to black. I have been persecuted for twelve 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. 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