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. Here is what they senthim: Yeah. The case was originally prosecuted by the Navarro County district attorney. The process usually sees witnesses and the media brought into a small viewing room where the inmate is already strapped to a gurney. 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 . Willingham maintained his innocence until the day he died, but his conviction was upheld on appeals in state and federal court. The panel's review was interrupted several times over the last two years, however, and continues today. At the time of the fire, Kuykendall and Willingham were newlyweds. I pray Lord, please forgive me. Stacy Kuykendall, his then-wife, played a . 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 . I have a good family. 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. My wife don't know anything about it. Willingham's actual final words were a venom-filled curse at his ex-wife as he attempted an obscene gesture, Cook reported. We both knew he had no future left! 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. Take care of my daughters, Kaneisha and Ieisha. According to an article by The New Yorker, Cameron was unfaithful, a heavy drinker, and physically assaulted Stacy at times, even while pregnant. 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. Read more on the case below, along with news coverage and key documents. Despite expert testimony against the arson, and the jailbird informer's retracted confession, he was still sentenced to die. Macher, Dusty You bitch; I hope you fucking rot, cunt. Willingham was executed in February 2004 proclaiming his innocence and hoping aloud that his wife would "rot in . 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. He then reportedly looked right at his victims' family and told them: "Be careful when you drive home. Our system is set in place to protect the people, and acts as a model to prosecute the evil in society. (Yes, they couldnt resist bringing in Clintonesque.). I love you Gabby. And the statement as Grann reports it is consistent with what we might expect from a person who actually was innocent. By an 11-to-1 vote, a Navarro County jury rejected claims by the State Bar of Texas that Jackson made false statements . Her words could hinder the latest attempts by Willingham's stepmother Eugenia Willingham and cousin Patricia Willingham Cox to alter his record. Love life; live long. Willingham claimed he tried to rescue them, but the police didn't buy that story, as he was relatively unharmed. The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man-convicted of a crime I did not commit. Some may choose to apologise for their crimes, others take their own route, she also explained. 1. 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. Lyon recalled that warden signalled for the execution to begin while he continued hurling insults at her until he finally became silent. Please avoid sharing any personal information in the comments below and join us in making this a hate-speech free and safe space for everyone. 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. If the citizens dont do away with the death penalty, Texas wont be a safe place to be. Trial by Fire: Directed by Edward Zwick. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. On October 14, Texas Judge Charlie Baird held a hearing in the Willingham case to determine whether to hold a court of inquiry. ", Earl Behringer Executed 6/11/97"Its a good day to die. When you are dealing with reality, real is not always what you want it to be. I am really so sorry about it, I really am. The arson finding that led to his 1992 conviction has been disputed by numerous fire experts. From Gods dust I came and to dust I will return-so the earth shall become my throne. Does knowing the full scope of his final statement change the way you feel about Willingham? I have been persecuted 12 years for something I did not do. ', "It was just such a crazy contrast to see in the space of 30 minutes, and it stuck with me.. His hopes and dreams became a fantasy. However, Cameron maintained his innocence to his dying breath, and later evidence also suggested that he could have been wrongly executed. On October 28, 2011, the commission issued the report addendum. That's the story of my whole life, that's what alcohol will do for you. 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. 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. 2023 Innocence Project. I love you mom. Thanks for coming Jack. Stacy Kuykendall said she believed for over a decade her husband, Cameron Todd Willingham, didn't deliberately start the house fire that killed their three daughters. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. 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 was charged and convicted of capital murder and arson, and sentenced to death. Take me home. Ron, give Peggy a hug for me. Though, in the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, Willingham has faced the harsh reality . Thank you for visiting us. 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. Its basically like reading a 300-page Indiana Jones movie that teaches you important and incredible things about the world. I have made peace with God. Everybody has been so good to me.I love all of you very much. 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. 1 On 23 December 1991, Cameron Todd Willingham escaped a house fire only to be arrested for the death of his three daughters. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. The film stars Jack O'Connell, Laura Dern, Emily Meade, Jeff Perry and Jade Pettyjohn.. Trial by Fire had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2018 and was released on May 17, 2019, by . Momma, I will always love you. Do you value our journalism? I hope that you can forgive me. Mon, Feb 27, 2023 LOGIN . I know I allowed the devil to rule my life. Willingham, who was asleep when the fire started, survived. Well, Grann doesnt actually say those words are the very last, but that is certainly the picture the reader gets. All right, Warden, let's do it. And it is a shame that it had to come to this. A WOMAN who witnessed almost 300 people be put to death has revealed that one inmate told the victims family I hope you die.. Thank you for your love.To the Hancock family, I am sorry for the pain I caused you. Yes, if one defines truth in the Clintonesque way of defensible as not literally false. 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. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. He knew the thought of life wasnt ticking in his head. There is a central room and two witnesss rooms divided by a wall, ensuring the two groups never meet. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Their father Cameron Todd Willingham es-caped from the fire, was tried, and eventually executed for their deaths. 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. "I spent years not knowing, but Todd gave me that. His wife was at the Salvation Army buying Christmas presents for the girls. I was in their reformatory schools and penitentiary, but ah, they create monsters in there. My girls would have been 23 and 21 years old today. 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. 1. You bitch; I hope you fucking rot, cunt. 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. Perhaps most notably, Hurst was able to explain the presence of lighter fluid at the scene: a charcoal grill which had been used . Investigation. I walked in here like a man and I am leaving here like a man. I regret it because now I have to face the lethal injection while doing death row time. Matthews. I have no revenge because hate wont solve anything. That was until she spoke to him shortly before his execution. Please don't ever forget me. Yes, sir. (Dont worry, Brad Pitts making it into a movie.) Unaware of Hursts report, she had determined that Willingham was guilty. To be out there and see what really did exist, now his name is written down on the Death Row list. I am going to sleep. "(In) the infamous words of my famous, legendary brother Nat Turner y'all kiss my black a**. Y'all take care and God bless you. I deserve what I am getting. Anthony Graves had nothing to do with it. 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. If I was y'all, I would have killed me. Cameron Todd Willingham, 36, was executed by lethal injection on 17 February 2004 in Huntsville, Texas for the murder of his three children. This page is an online memorial to Cameron Todd Willigham, an innocent man who was executed by the state of Texas for a crime he did not commit. 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. Last week, the pair filed a petition with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend a pardon for Willingham. 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. 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. 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. The Fire That Started & Ended It All. Some say Cameron Todd Willingham was wrongfully convicted, and the court put an innocent man to death. My wife had nothing to do with it. "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. 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. 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? A letter to the editor revealed that there was more to his last words than that, however. "He directed so much vitriol towards her that the warden actually started the execution as he was talking to make him stop.". I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. 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. Before this ID episode, Stacy last gave a public statement to The Huffington Post in 2012, when Camerons family was fighting to earn him an acquittal. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. By Maurice Possley. You have been so good to me. Last Statement: Yeah. . 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.. Cameron Todd Willingham's last words before the state of Texas executed him are amongst the ones that have stayed with Michelle Lyons . View our online Press Pack. "He directed so much vitriol towards her that the warden actually started the execution as he was talking to make him stop," Lyons said. I live in New York. Its the best magazine article I read this year. Tell my kids I love them. For years, Michelle Lyons witnessed state killings in her roles as a journalist, then on the other side of the divide as the advocate for the state. 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. 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. 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. From God's dust I came and to dust I will return so the earth shall become my throne. 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. 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.. 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.. Fire investigators determined that the fire was caused by arson and that Willingham used an accelerant to start the blaze. He said, The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. Innocence Project Co-Director Barry Scheck responded that the the reasoning of the opinion is wrong and contrary to the clear intention of the legislature when it formed the Commission.. Last words: "The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. Despite that, as time went by, her opinion got swayed by court documents and other evidence. He was put to death for allegedly taking his daughters' lives by intentionally setting fire to their home. There was no Hollywood happy ending, no last-minute call from the governor . In the days following the devastation, a full investigation would take place. I don't know what to say. I hope you f***ing rot in hell. 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. He said, The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. At the trial, the prosecutor asserted that Willingham wanted to . 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 . SCOTT HONEA Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Top: The aftermath of a . Months after Willingham was executed, the Chicago Tribune published an investigative report that raised questions about the forensic analysis. I write for the Awl, and also a book called Public Apology, for Grand Central Publishing. Might Willingham have been guilty after all? 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. And to my family, I love you. 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. ", Angel Maturino Resendiz Executed 6/27/06"Yes sir. Ardmore, Oklahoma (CNN) Cameron Todd Willingham's family here . 1 year old twins: Kameron, Karmon, and two year old: Amber. "Mothers love their children and always will, no matter what happens in their lives. 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. 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. Thanks to Carolyn and Gloria, who have been my friends for over four years. EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Wife Doesn't Think Texas Man Was Wrongly Executed. In July 2011, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued an opinion in response to questions from the commission about jurisdiction and authority. 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. Willingham was convicted of murdering his three daughters by arson in 1992 and was executed on February 17, 2004. Below are some final statements of convicted murderers. He often said, "Theres nothing left of me." As previously revealed by The Sun, Lyons says this can sometimes be an arduous process as some refuse to die quietly. Documents obtained by the Innocence Project show that state officials received that report but apparently did not act on it. 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. 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. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. "I hope y'all don't have a wreck and kill yourselves. "Eugenia loved Todd, and I understand why she does not want to face the facts of what he did to our girls," Kuykendall said. 1. 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. My wife, who had been up a flight of stairs, beat me there. Case creates controversy as governor resists and arson experts are challenged. Press "Enter" or click on the arrow to show results. That poignant end reads almost like a Hollywood script, doesnt it? ', "It was just such a crazy contrast to see in the space of 30 minutes, and it stuck with me.. Cameron Todd Willingham had tater tots, onion rings, pie, enchiladas, and ribs. A letter to the editor revealed that there was more to his last words than that, however. "They don't allow that usually. I hope you rot in hell, bitch; I hope you fucking rot in hell, bitch. Todd had minor burns but no major injury. She denied him his wish, later telling a reporter, He took my kids away from me.. 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. Willingham's three children -- 2-year-old Amber Kuykendall and 1-year-old twins Karmon and Kameron Willingham, died of smoke inhalation. Willingham was sleeping when a fire broke out in his family's home. Is it the whole truth? 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. 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.

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