After all, she also agreed to take to the stands to state the same during his trial. Thanks to Carolyn and Gloria, who have been my friends for over four years. I miss them so much.. His wife, 22-year old Stacy Willingham, had gone out early that morning to do some last-minute Christmas shopping. 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. 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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. 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. A letter to the editor revealed that there was more to his last words than that,however. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. Then, turning to his wife, who was behind a screen just a few metres away, he said: "I hope you rot in hell, b****. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Take care. 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. It was me and me alone. He said, the only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime. 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 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. You don't have to. Amnesty International. State bar files charges more than 10 years after execution. 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. I love you too Pop, keep your head up. A leading arson expert in 2004, however, concluded in a report that the testimony from fire investigators used against Willingham was no longer scientifically valid. "My girls would have been 23 and 21 years old today. Tell my kids I love them. I dont blame Todds stepmom for fighting for her son," Kuykendall said in her statement. I hope you rot in hell, bitch; I hope you fucking rot in hell, bitch. And although Stacy did tell investigators about the assault, she always said that her then-husband wasnt capable of hurting their children because she knew him better than anyone else. Although Willingham fought for his innocence for 12 years on death row, he was executed in . Rick Perry replaced key members of the panel, delayed the investigation for months. Rick Perry turned down an eleventh-hour request to stop the execution. So I hope that you don't find peace, not in my death, but in Christ. Willingham was executed by lethal injection in Huntsville on February 17, 2004. The panels review was interrupted several times over the last two years, however, and continues today. My wife had nothing to do with it. Her Facebook page asserts that she is The mother of three daughters that were murdered by their father Cameron todd Willingham 12/23/1991, whereas her Instagram showcases just how much she misses her young girls and how shell continue to shout her truth from the highest peaks. He reasserts his innocence, and his very last words are religious. 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. And on October 15, the Texas Forensic Science Commission discussed the case in depth at its regular meeting. However, Cameron maintained his innocence to his dying breath, and later evidence also suggested that he could have been wrongly executed. 2. He asked Stacy if his tombstone could be erected next to their childrens graves. Bounce back, baby. 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. Yesterday, Willingham's former wife . Willingham's three children -- 2-year-old Amber Kuykendall and 1-year-old twins Karmon and Kameron Willingham, died of smoke inhalation. I love you mom. Cameron Todd Willingham. You've been the best. 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. But others she admits are very hard to forget as she recalled the horrific final words of one inmate. I don't know what to say. On 23 December 1991, the Corsicana home of Cameron Willingham burned. 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. I walked in here like a man and I am leaving here like a man. And the statement as Grann reports it is consistent with what we might expect from a person who actually was innocent. 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. At Willinghams 1992 trial, prosecutors claimed he intentionally set fire to his home in order to kill his own children. Is it the whole truth? . "From God's dust I came and to dust I will return - so the earth shall become my throne. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. "(In) the infamous words of my famous, legendary brother Nat Turner y'all kiss my black a**. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. They had died in the blaze. His wife was at the Salvation Army buying Christmas presents for the girls. 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. Read more on the case below, along with news coverage and key documents. He asked Stacy if his tombstone could be erected next to their childrens graves. "He admitted he did it and told me why," she said. And ah, I believe I'm going home. Click on the document to see photos of the prisoner and a description of the crime. 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 legitimacy of the guilty verdict and the interpretation of the evidence that was used to . Anthony Graves had nothing to do with it. In 2009, she unleashed a startling accusation that Willingham confessed the crime to her when she visited him on death row. 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 only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man-convicted of a crime I did not commit. 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. He was confessed, he was one of the guilty ones. Mon, Feb 27, 2023 LOGIN . Willingham said he was asleep in the home when the fire started and always maintained his innocence. At the time of the fire, Kuykendall and Willingham were newlyweds. "I read that Todds stepmom and cousin are asking the governor for a pardon. He could never explain why he hung around with thugs? In 2008, the Texas Forensic Science Commission agreed to investigate the case. By an 11-to-1 vote, a Navarro County jury rejected claims by the State Bar of Texas that Jackson made false statements . 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. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. She told the Corsicana Daily Sun that a close examination of the evidence persuaded her that Willingham was not innocent. Website by MADEO. Resources in the case are below, along with background on the role of unvalidated forensics in wrongful convictions. Lyon recalled that warden signalled for the execution to begin while he continued hurling insults at her until he finally became silent. Well Mom, sometimes it works out like this. Texas Tribune donors or members may be quoted or mentioned in our stories, or may be the subject of them. That poignant end reads almost like a Hollywood script, doesnt it? It ends like this: Just before Willingham received the lethal injection, he was asked if he had any last words. When you are dealing with reality, real is not always what you want it to be. 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. 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. 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. 2. Matthews. Cameron Todd Willingham, 36, was executed by lethal injection on 17 February 2004 in Huntsville, Texas for the murder of his three children. I grew up in New Jersey. 1. Take me home Lord. To be out there and see what really did exist, now his name is written down on the Death Row list. I regret it because now I have to face the lethal injection while doing death row time. There is a central room and two witnesss rooms divided by a wall, ensuring the two groups never meet. To the end, he denied setting the fire that killed his wife and kids. 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. Thank Chaplain Taylor and Jane. Below are some final statements of convicted murderers. Granns story establishes that, after years of supporting Willingham as he waited on death row, Stacy had lost herfaith. "They don't allow that usually. He then reportedly looked right at his victims' family and told them: "Be careful when you drive home. From God's dust I came and to dust I will return so the earth shall become my throne. The case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed in Texas in 2004 and whom I wrote about for The New Yorker last month, has taken another strange twist. God is real. Here is what they senthim: Yeah. Willingham's former probation officer and a judge both directly refute any notion that he was a sociopath. On Dec. 23, 1991, a fire consumed the Willingham home, killing Amber, 2, and twins Karmon and Kameron, 1. Sunday, September 27, 2009. That is it. You have been so good to me. I am going to be face to face with Jesus now. Love life; live long. And to my family, I love you. Willingham's actual final words were a venom-filled curse at his ex-wife as he attempted an obscene gesture, Cook reported. 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. Is Granns report the truth? This statement contradicted Stacys several others, especially as shed never mentioned such an argument earlier. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Like I said, I am sorry for hurting your family. "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. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, 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, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). "I hope y'all don't have a wreck and kill yourselves. No way you "accidentally" leave a kid in a . It ends like this: Just before Willingham received the lethal injection, he was asked if he had any last words. I can only imagine how lonesome he was all by himself. It seems like Cameron admitted to the couples tumultuous past first, acknowledging that their relationship was affected by their troubled backgrounds. I love you, Gabby.". ", 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. Its so sad that in a country like the US which we Ugandans admire and always wish that our lawmakers could benchmark in abid to create a free and unbiased judicial system such loopholes. Read more about the TFSC and download key documents relating to the panel here. There is a central room and two witnesss rooms divided by a wall, ensuring the two groups never meet. As incomprehensible as it seems, Scheidegger wrote, we know that some fathers do kill their young children, and anger at the mother is one common reason.. From Gods dust I came and to dust I will return, so the Earth shall become my throne.. 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. 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. more to his last words than that,however, Choire So now, lets find out where she is, shall we? Why did he go out into the world to see? Is Granns report the truth? How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from the Innocence Project: Take action: Momma, I will always love 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. Willingham, who was asleep when the fire started, survived. Might Willingham have been guilty after all? I miss them so much.". 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. The 16,000-word article by David Grann shows that all of the evidence used against Willingham was invalid, including the forensic analysis, the informants testimony, other witness testimony and additional circumstantial evidence. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. At the trial, the prosecutor asserted that Willingham wanted to . Unaware of Hursts report, she had determined that Willingham was guilty. Exact date yellow weather warning for snow and ice forecast to hit UK - will you be affected? 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 . I lied on him in court. 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. I confess my sins. I Killed Dirty John - Season 8, Episode 1 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 . Based in part on Webb's testimony, Willingham was . You can learn more about how we consider cases here. That is it.". Faulty investigative techniques, redundant fire science, and swinging witness testimonies resulted in his . 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. In 2009, an arson . 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. 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 . I stole two lives and I know it was precious to ya'll. 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. ", Donald Aldrich Executed 10/12/04"Yes sir, I would. If the citizens dont do away with the death penalty, Texas wont be a safe place to be. Cameron Todd Willingham, delivered a foul-mouthed tirade directed at his ex-wife. Does knowing the full scope of his final statement change the way you feel about Willingham? 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. 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.". [Remaining portion of statement omitted due to profanity.]. Gross negligence and a severe consequence they failed to act on their duties. I sent a letter to somebody, you know a letter outlining what I feel about everything. And the statement as Grann reports it is consistent with what we might expect from a person who actually was innocent. However, Cameron maintained his innocence to his dying breath, and later evidence also suggested that he could have been wrongly executed. Its the best magazine article I read thisyear. (Yes, they couldnt resist bringing in Clintonesque.).