David Grann, a staff writer at The New Yorker, has presented . That was until she spoke to him shortly before his execution. "They pulled guns out . 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. I am at peace with God. At Willinghams 1992 trial, prosecutors claimed he intentionally set fire to his home in order to kill his own children. Warden. 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.. That process could take months. It seems like Cameron admitted to the couples tumultuous past first, acknowledging that their relationship was affected by their troubled backgrounds. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Fire investigators determined that the fire was caused by arson and that Willingham used an accelerant to start the blaze. 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. Here are five crucial facts about the case. I love you Gabby. But Stacy Kuykendall knew Todd better than anyone, and she's convinced that he was a monster who was guilty as charged. When you are dealing with reality, real is not always what you want it to be. Cameron Todd Willingham who was born on the 9th of January 1968 passed away on the 17th of February 2004. Cameron Todd Willingham had tater tots, onion rings, pie, enchiladas, and ribs. I hope God will give you peace with this.Baby, I love you. Thanks for coming Jack. "I hope y'all don't have a wreck and kill yourselves. 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. On April 15, 2011, the TFSC issued its final report in the Willingham / Willis cases. I grew up in New Jersey. He could never explain why he hung around with thugs? Lyon recalled that warden signalled for the execution to begin while he continued hurling insults at her until he finally became silent. 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. It ends like this: Just before Willingham received the lethal injection, he was asked if he had any 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. There is a central room and two witnesss rooms divided by a wall, ensuring the two groups never meet. Here is what they senthim: Yeah. I will see you all when you get there. I write for the Awl, and also a book called Public Apology, for Grand Central Publishing. I deserve what I am getting. For other inquiries, Contact Us. 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. The panels review was interrupted several times over the last two years, however, and continues today. While Willingham . 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. But by 2004, she had declared Willingham guilty. Willingham, a husband and father of three girls managed to escape the house but his daughters all died. I love my parents. He then reportedly looked right at his victims' family and told them: "Be careful when you drive home. Michelle's book Death Row: The Final Minutes, is available now. Ron, give Peggy a hug for me. Testimony from an informer and the fire investigators convicted him, with the prison informant saying Willingham confessed that he'd started the fire to hide the evidence that his daughters had been abused. "They don't allow that usually. 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. Its basically like reading a 300-page Indiana Jones movie that teaches you important and incredible things about the world. Momma, I will always love 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 he was being executed. 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 . All of you, all of you have truly been the best. Press "Enter" or click on the arrow to show results. An investigative report in the September 7, 2009, issue of the New Yorker deconstructs every facet of the states case against Willingham. Take care of my daughters, Kaneisha and Ieisha. Its the best book I read this year. I hope you rot in hell, bitch; I hope you fucking rot in hell, bitch. I, I never was right after that incident happened. ", David Long Executed 12/8/99"Ah, just ah, sorry ya'll. My wife don't know anything about it. I was in their reformatory schools and penitentiary, but ah, they create monsters in there. The Fire That Started & Ended It All. ", Earl Behringer Executed 6/11/97"Its a good day to die. Yes, if one defines truth in the Clintonesque way of defensible as not literally false. 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. If the citizens dont do away with the death penalty, Texas wont be a safe place to be. It ends like this: Just before Willingham received the lethal injection, he was asked if he had any last words. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Cameron Todd Willingham And The Pentagram Arson via Texas Dept. Take care of yourselves. 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. 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. Willingham's three daughters were killed in a fire a few days before Christmas of 1991. Willingham was sleeping when a fire broke out in his family's home. 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. Lyons explained that initially the process made her "completely unbiased and unaffected" by what she saw, as the executions ran like clockwork and lasted a mere few minutes. He survived, as did his wife, who wasn't in the house at . Continue to pray for me, I am fine. 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. Help us advocate for the innocent by sharing the latest news from the Innocence Project. 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. Last words: "The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. 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. 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 She denied him his wish, later telling a reporter, He took my kids away fromme.. By Maurice Possley. I am going to be face to face with Jesus now. Show us with your support. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. S2010 E14 - 1m 42s. "I hope you rot in hell, b--," Willingham said . Part of HuffPost Crime. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. The current DA, R. Lowell Thompson, told HuffPost he doesn't plan to challenge the pardon request. I lied on him in court. In 2009, she unleashed a startling accusation that Willingham confessed the crime to her when she visited him on death row. (Download the full trial transcripts here.). "(In) the infamous words of my famous, legendary brother Nat Turner y'all kiss my black a**. 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. I pray Lord, please forgive me. However, Cameron maintained his innocence to his dying breath, and later evidence also suggested that he could have been wrongly executed. "My girls would have been 23 and 21 years old today. I love you.I am ready to go home and be with my Lord. 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. Below are some final statements of convicted murderers. 1584 Words | 7 Pages. by Brandi Grissom Ask the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to investigate the wrongful execution of Cameron Todd Willingham! I Killed Dirty John - Season 8, Episode 1 He said, The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. We both knew he had no future left! He reasserts his innocence, and his very last words are religious. 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. 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. 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. In 2009, Stacy even went as far as to claim that during one of her final visits to Cameron while he was on death row, he confessed to the crime by stating that it was his response to her divorce threat from the night before. 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. But anyway I just wanted, right after that to apologize to you. You know what I'm saying. Cameron Todd Willingham's last words before the state of Texas executed him are amongst the ones that have stayed with Michelle Lyons . Willingham's ex-wife tearfully reiterated her contention Wednesday . I dont blame Todds stepmom for fighting for her son," Kuykendall said in her statement. To my step father Paul, I love you. Handout. Willingham's three children -- 2-year-old Amber Kuykendall and 1-year-old twins Karmon and Kameron Willingham, died of smoke inhalation. The process usually sees witnesses and the media brought into a small viewing room where the inmate is already strapped to a gurney. To the West Family, I would just like to apologize for your loss. I hope you f***ing rot in hell. Sometimes officers were forced to gas them out of cells, strap up their heads and even give chase across prison grounds. According to an article by The New Yorker, Cameron was unfaithful, a heavy drinker, and physically assaulted Stacy at times, even while pregnant. 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, who was asleep when the fire started, survived. 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? The process usually sees witnesses and the media brought into a small viewing room where the inmate is already strapped to a gurney. 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. 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. Todd is guilty, the criminal justice system and the courts confirmed his guilt, and he should not be pardoned for his crimes, Stacy said. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Cameron Todd Willingham. 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., 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, 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, Bristol explosion - Homes evacuated after 'suspicious' blast rocks street, Sister of solicitor, 59, who died of blood clot after AstraZeneca vaccine vows she will still get second dose herself, Couple baffled why their bathroom keeps flooding shocked to discover massive SNAKE blocking the drain, Join Bear Grylls in Week 2 of his 40 day military fitness challenge to get Brits into shape, US watching Russias doomsday nuke testing very closely as Putins new Arctic warfare terrifies the world, Calls to lift lockdown faster as Covid fades to lowest level since July as cases more than HALVED in week, 'Big cat' caught on CCTV in Cheshire after couple discover strange footprints and slain chicken. 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.. Thank you for visiting us. ", Marcus Cotton Executed 3/3/04 "Yes Warden, I do. On October 29, 1992, he was sentenced to death. "I hope y'all don't have a wreck and kill yourselves. Stacy was unharmed as she was out Christmas shopping at the time. He was put to death for allegedly taking his daughters' lives by intentionally setting fire to their home. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. She told the Corsicana Daily Sun that a close examination of the evidence persuaded her that Willingham was not innocent. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. Might Willingham have been guilty after all? Might Willingham have been guilty after all? But others she admits are very hard to forget as she recalled the horrific final words of one inmate. Cameron Todd Willingham's stepmother and cousin, . State bar files charges more than 10 years after execution. (Yes, they couldnt resist bringing in Clintonesque.). 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. Feb. 5, 20117 PM Central. 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. Love life; live long. . 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. Texas Tribune donors or members may be quoted or mentioned in our stories, or may be the subject of them. I miss them so much.. Amnesty International. I had a good life. 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. He said, The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. Faulty investigative techniques, redundant fire science, and swinging witness testimonies resulted in his . "His wife was watching from the witness room and I was . Oh Jesus, Lord God, take me home. Last week, the pair filed a petition with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend a pardon for Willingham. As previously revealed by The Sun, Lyons says this can sometimes be an arduous process as some refuse to die quietly. Abul, behold your son, and Anitra, behold your mother. It was me and me alone. (That blog is a project of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, which . 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. 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." Lyon recalled that warden signalled for the execution to begin while he continued hurling insults at her until he finally became silent. 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 . In 1991, there was a fire at Willingham's home in Corsicana, Texas that quickly grew into a full blaze, completely engulfing the house. [Remaining portion of statement omitted due to profanity.]. The Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. There is a central room and two witnesss rooms divided by a wall, ensuring the two groups never meet. 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 maintained his innocence until the day he died, but his conviction was upheld on appeals in state and federal court. 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. I love you Gabby. The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. 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 confess my sins. ", Dennis Dowthitt Executed 3/7/01"I am so sorry for what y'all had to go through. 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. Why was the prosecutor and governor not charged with manslaughter? A letter to the editor revealed that there was more to his last words than that, however. 2. Well, Grann doesnt actually say those words are the very last, but that is certainly the picture the reader gets. The chilling memoirs, which she recently penned in her book Death Row: The Final Minutes, has now been fully . Based in part on Webb's testimony, Willingham was . 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'. What was did, cannot be undone. He reasserts his innocence, and his very last words are religious. 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 . Willingham, 23, the children's father, and the only . Trial by Fire: Directed by Edward Zwick. She also added her experience about a man named Rodolfo Hernandez, that she felt had been treated harshly with his death sentence. For a complete list of contributors, click here. You have been so good to me. Stacy Kuykendall, his then-wife, played a . I want to say goodbye again to my boys. I love you all and I will see you on the other side. I miss them so much.". I hope you will accept my apology, even though its too late. From Gods dust I came and to dust I will return, so the Earth shall become my throne.. She also added her experience about a man named Rodolfo Hernandez, that she felt had been treated harshly with his death sentence. They had died in the blaze. I will wait for 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. You bitch; I hope you fucking rot, cunt. "From God's dust I came and to dust I will return - so the earth shall become my throne. On Feb. 17, 2004, Cameron Todd Willingham was executed by the state of Texas for a triple homicide that never happened. Her words could hinder the latest attempts by Willingham's stepmother Eugenia Willingham and cousin Patricia Willingham Cox to alter his record. 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 the days following the devastation, a full investigation would take place. EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Wife Doesn't Think Texas Man Was Wrongly Executed. 1. No way you "accidentally" leave a kid in a . 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. He asked Stacy if his tombstone could be erected next to their childrens graves. You know? 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. I love and cherish my friends and family. I gotta go, road dog. He is fixing to find out some deep things that are real. You had some lovely girls and I am sorry. With Jack O'Connell, Laura Dern, Emily Meade, Chris Coy. 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. 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. Its basically like reading a 300-page Indiana Jones movie that teaches you important and incredible things about the world.