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Many of those hearsay witnesses statements evolved and hardened once they knew Willingham was a suspect in the case. Webb later sent Jackson a "Motion to Recant Testimony," which declared, "Mr. Willingham is innocent of all charges." 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 . a husband returns home to find his wife dead on the living room floor; he tells first responders she committed suicide . Hes just not. She also said the prosecution was motivated to find anyone to blame. Cameron Todd Willingham's Ex-Wife Stacy Kuykendall Says Texas Shouldn't Pardon Him [EXCLUSIVE] | HuffPost . [citation needed], In addition to the arson evidence presented at the trial, a jailhouse informant named Johnny Webb testified at that time. Note to Stacy and Family: Many accounts refer to Amber as having lastname of Kuykendall and Willingham. [1], Eyewitnesses described Willingham as having "singed hair on his chest, eyelids, and head and had a two-inch burn injury on his right shoulder, but the prosecution highlighted the absence of any evidence of smoke inhalation. I was 21, just lost all my children and now everyone expected me to believe that their father did this. At the time of the trial, she said she had believed in her husbands innocence, but over the years, after studying the evidence and the trial testimony, she became convinced he was guilty. October 27, 2009, 12:00 AM, CDT. Stacy Kuykendall, Willingham's then-wife and the mother of his three daughters, was not home at the time of the fire . I said that I was going to divorce you. This evidence included a finding of char patterns in the floor in the shape of "puddles," a finding of multiple starting points of the fire, and a finding that the fire had burned "fast and hot," all considered to indicate a fire that had been ignited with the help of a liquid accelerant. Yesterday, Willingham's former wife, Stacy Kuykendall, released a statement to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram saying that he secretly confessed to killing their three daughters, who . She had this exchange with a police detective and the deputy state fire marshal, Manuel Vasquez: VASQUEZ: Did you and your husband have any disagreements on the night after Kmart? He admitted he burnt them to me, and he was convicted for his crime. Within 5 kilometers of your location. David Grann: Stacy Speaks: News Desk : The New Yorker. October 30, 2009. VASQUEZ: Did he get angry at you for any reason? The spokeswoman added he was aware of a "claim of a reinterpretation of (the) arson testimony. Any one can make a story seem real. Incendiary: The Willingham Case is a 2011 documentary film by Steve Mims and Joe Bailey, Jr. that explores the conviction and execution of Cameron Todd Willingham for arson murder. Vasquez asked her if he ever abused the children. [1], Jackson contradicted Willingham's account by claiming blood gas analysis at Navarro Regional Hospital shortly after the fire revealed that Willingham had not inhaled any smoke. Dallas, TX - Outside an Austin court room today, the ex-wife of convicted, executed killer Cameron Todd Willingham tearfully reiterated her former husband's guilt. Willingham was accused of arson . Commissioners last month rejected Bradley's efforts to close the case and conclude that fire investigators did not commit professional misconduct. Willingham's attorneys were not notified. Neighbors later told the police how they had seen Willingham crouching on the lawn outside his house as the building went up in smoke. He said if I didnt have my girls I couldnt leave him and that I could never have Amber or the twins with anyone else but him. His then-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, was, too, convinced of his innocence until ultimately believing he was guilty. In the fall of 2004, just months after Willinghams execution, the ChicagoTribune reporters Steve Mills and Maurice Possley visited Kuykendall at her house and asked her if Willingham had, in fact, confessed to her. Myth: (For example, she now claims the couple fought the night before the fire, but she clearly said the opposite in various official statements over the years.). His wife Stacey was out Christmas shopping at the time. March 9, 2015. It was just a fire. Perhaps most notably, Hurst was able to explain the presence of lighter fluid at the scene: a charcoal grill which had been used . Prosecutors charged that Willingham set the fire and killed the children in an attempt to cover up the abuse of the children and wife. In 1999, she spoke to Elizabeth Gilbert, a teacher and playwright from Houston who had begun to investigate Willinghams case. If Stacy will advise, I will be happy to make correction. On February 8, 2004the very day that Ronnie Kuykendall claimed his sister had told him that Willingham had confessedthe CorsicanaDaily Sun publishedan interview with Stacy Kuykendall. Attorneys for Willingham's family are seeking his exoneration. Stacy Kuykendall, the ex-wife of Cameron Todd Willingham, said in a statement to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram published Sunday that Willingham told her he was upset by threats to divorce him after . Kuykendall claims in the . [16] Against the advice of his own counsel, Willingham declined a life sentence in exchange for his guilty plea. Stacey Kuykendall divorced her husband not long after the deaths of her children, and she professed that Willingham had been abusive towards her, but not the children. 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 . "[16] Grann, however, said fire investigators who reviewed the case told him that "Willingham's first-degree and second-degree burns were consistent with being in a fire before the moment of 'flashover' that is, when everything in a room suddenly ignites. 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. [9][10] The APA said that Grigson had violated the organization's ethics code by, "arriving at a psychiatric diagnosis without first having examined the individuals in question, and for indicating, while testifying in court as an expert witness, that he could predict with 100 per cent certainty that the individuals would engage in future violent acts. The case was discussed again in a 2009 investigative report in The New Yorker. 982 Followers, 33 Following, 49 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Stacy Kuykendall Willinghamgirlslivesmattered (@willinghamgirlslivesmattered) Webb claimed that Willingham confessed that he set the fire to hide an injury or death of one of the girls, which was caused by his wife. Daily Sun) CORSICANA . By John Schwartz. [8], During the penalty phase of the trial, a prosecutor said that Willingham's tattoo of a skull and serpent fit the profile of a sociopath. [1], Psychiatrist James Grigson, known by the moniker "Dr. Death" for his repeated testimony as an expert witness in which he recommended the death penalty, said that a man of Willingham's criminal history was an "extremely severe sociopath" and was incurable. He insisted he would not admit to something he had not done, even if it meant sparing his life. On Jan. 8, the night before Willingham's 24th birthday, he was arrested by a SWAT team. Equal parts murder mystery, forensic investigation and political drama, the film meticulously reviews the arson evidence used to convict Willingham, and immerses audiences in contemporary struggles over the case. There is credible and reliable new information that Willingham confessed to his ex-wife. an affidavit from Willinghams former brother-in-law, Trailer for Trial by Fire film about Todd Willingham, World Premiere of Trial by Fire about Todd Willingham at Telluride Film Festival August 31, 2018, Trial Starts to Determine if Todd Willinghams Prosecutor Hid Evidence. The police then began to suspect that Willingham was a murderer. Her statement directly contradicts numerous previous statements she has made: in interviews with police and fire investigators; in testimony during the trial; in letters to public officials and Willinghams lawyers; and in her comments to the press. Testimony from fire investigators was the primary evidence against Willingham. In the case, Willingham refused an offer to plead guilty in return for a life sentence. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Chronicle sues Perry over clemency report, Freed death row inmate calls on Perry to halt executions | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com Houston Chronicle. Therefore, I believe that there is no way he could have possibly committed this crime. However, her letter didn't work and within a year shed filed for divorce. But Stacy Kuykendall knew Todd better than anyone, and she's convinced that he was a monster who was guilty as charged and deserved to die. It was an unusual hearing . Nine nationally renowned, independent experts have reviewed the case in the last five years and found that the forensic analysis was wrong. State district Judge Charlie Baird scheduled an unusual court of inquiry hearing Wednesday after the Innocence Project filed a petition asking him to "restore the reputation" of Willingham and declare he was wrongly convicted. By David Grann. According to an August 2009 investigative report by an expert hired by the Texas Forensic Science Commission, the original claims of arson were doubtful. [35] For example, earlier in 2009, Kuykendall supported her 2004 contradiction of her brother's affidavit (saying that there had been no confession) and had previously always maintained that things had been amicable between her and Willingham before the fire. "[17], An August 2009 Chicago Tribune investigative article concluded, "Over the past five years, the Willingham case has been reviewed by nine of the nation's top fire scientists first for the Tribune, then for the Innocence Project, and now for the commission. Willingham was subsequently executed for the crime; however, some individuals have expressed serious doubt about his conviction and wonder if the state killed an innocent man. Here is whatMills and Possley wrote: The response from local prosecutors included a two-paragraph affidavit from Ronnie Kuykendall, the brother of Willinghams former wife. [23], In 2004, Gerald Hurst examined the arson evidence compiled by state deputy fire marshal Manuel Vasquez. However, Cameron maintained his innocence to his dying breath, and later evidence also suggested that he could have been wrongly executed. [41] On March 3, 2015, the Texas State Bar filed a disciplinary action, Commission for Lawyer Discipline v. Jackson, against Jackson for failing to disclose information on his deal with Webb. Bradley subsequently canceled the meeting amid accusations that Perry was interfering with the inquiry. He said that Kuykendall, who had divorced Willingham while he was on Death Row, had recently visited him, then gathered the family to say that he had confessed. . No clear motive was found, and Willingham's wife denied that the couple had been fighting prior to the night of the fire. Prueba de fuego est disponible en Netflix! Kuykendall voice began quavering early in her statement, as she noted her oldest daughter would be 21 and her twins would be 19. Sad when people cant just tell the truth. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If the judge clears Willingham, it will mark the first time an official in the nation's most active death penalty state has formally declared that someone was wrongly executed. Willingham's Stepmother Responds. January 9, 1968 - February 16, 2004 . Stacy Kuykendall, his then-wife, played a . Myth: Jackson stated that Willingham's comment was an indicator of guilt. American justice (in many cases) is flawed. Person after person has stood up and testified to facts of this case that quite frankly you all aren't covering. A psychologist was asked to interpret Willingham's Iron Maiden poster. Oct. 14, 2010. 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. [15] The prosecutor claimed that the fire that killed the children was the third attempt by Willingham to kill them, and that he had attempted to abort each of his wife's two pregnancies by kicking her in order to cause miscarriages. "[1] A sample of burned material near the doorway of the house tested positive for mineral spirits, indicating the presence of lighter fluid. "[30], The Texas Forensic Science Commission was scheduled to discuss the report by Beyler at a meeting on October 2, 2009, but two days before the meeting, Texas Governor Rick Perry replaced the chair of the commission (Sam Bassett) and two other members (Alan Levy and Aliece Watts). That statement was false. Myths and Facts about the Willingham Case. February 27, 2023 Movies. They didnt care who. She said, I dont think he did it. The commission was never asked to determine whether Willingham was innocent, and was never going to reach a conclusion on his innocence. Stacy Kuykendall read a prepared statement to reporters outside the Travis County courthouse. Baird has twice sat on courts considering Willingham's appeal and once won an award from the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Willingham maintained his innocence up until his death and spent years trying to appeal his conviction. Webb later asked, "The statute of limitations has run out on perjury, hasn't it? Gary Green stabbed his wife, Lovetta Armstead, and then drowned her daughter Jazzmen Montgomery before her two sons managed to persuade him to spare their lives in this particularly horrible case of anger and jealously. 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 . stacy willingham married. "[1] Bebe Bridges, a former judge who was often on the "opposite side" of Willingham in the legal system, and who had sent him to jail for stealing, said that she could not imagine him killing his children. Menu. Details in Stacy Kuykendall recent statements contradict what she said in multiple statements to law enforcement authorities, letters to Willingham and attorneys, and under oath at his trial. Willingham was executed in 2004. In their final meeting, however, he did not confess, she told the Tribune. Prior to his death, he was expelled by the American Psychiatric Association and the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians for unethical conduct. The case will resume Oct. 14. Documentary Feb 14, 2021 42 min. Unfortunately, by then, Kuykendall had been swayed by the other court documents and findings. A later study into the causes of the fire stated that it might not have been arson. Stacy Kuykendall is known for Evil Lives Here (2016). 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 . [20] While on death row, Willingham was initially incarcerated in the Ellis Unit,[1] and later in the Polunsky Unit.[21]. She said that she and Willingham had not had a disagreement for two weeks. Recalling her visit to Willingham in prison shortly before his execution on February 17, 2004, Kuykendall told theStar-Telegram: He asked if I remembered what I had told him that I was going to do after the first of the year [in 1992]. ", "Analysis of the Fire Investigation Methods and Procedures Used in the Criminal Arson Cases Against Ernest Ray Willis and Cameron Todd Willingham", "Shake-up in Texas execution probe draws criticism, questions", "Evidence of Concealed Jailhouse Deal Raises Questions About a Texas Execution", "Effect of "Dr. Death" and his testimony lingers", "Texas appeals court halts execution of man who did not kill anyone", "Groups Expel Psychiatrist Known for Murder Cases; Witness nicknamed 'Dr. Cameron Todd Willingham during a 2004 death-row interview just before his execution. "[38] Judge Charlie Baird held an inquiry in September 2010 in Austin, but Lowell Thompson, the Navarro County DA, appeared at the hearing with a motion for Baird to recuse himself due to conflict of interest Baird had once affirmed Willingham's conviction while sitting as a Criminal Appeals judge yet had also been recognized by an anti-death penalty group. 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. TV-14. Willingham'sex-wifetearfully reiterated her contention Wednesday that he confessed his guilt to her. Todd said he'd been napping but had just managed to escape the flames before he was severely injured. Si quieres saber en qu se convierte Stacy Kuykendall hoy, Sigue leyendo! Cameron Todd Willingham - Wikipedia. Scientific experts have conducted experiments with identical fires and Willinghams burns are normal for this type of fire. The Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. The sole exception was when she spoke out about his ultimate fate in a 2012 interview with The Huffington Post, eight years after his execution, while his family members sought Willinghams pardon. The National Fire Protection Association had issued guidelines several months before Willinghams trial that directly contradicted the analysis the experts used (and testified about at the trial). [citation needed] Willingham was executed by lethal injection on February 17, 2004, at the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville. Evidence of such a deal would have eliminated Webb's testimony. But she said in an interview that was untrue. Facebook gives people the power to. It didnt take this long. On one fact, Willingham changed his story. Cameron Todd Willingham Just when it seemed Gov. Corsicana -- The Associated Press is reporting that Stacy Kuykendall, former wife of Cameron Todd Willingham, will hold a press conference today before an Austin judge is scheduled to begin a hearing on whether or not Cameron Willingham was wrongly executed for the deaths of his three daughters in a 1991 fire ruled as arson. She told reporters thatWillingham set the fire that killed the girls "and watched while their tiny bodies burned.". Some say Cameron Todd Willingham was wrongfully convicted, and the court put an innocent man to death. He was executed on February 17, 2004, aged 36. Application of the Law is not perfect in the UK either, but Todd would still be alive if hed lived here, and would probably have been exonerated. [14] On returning to the scene of the fire with firefighter Ron Franks, in an effort to recover personal property (which was described as a very usual request at trial), Willingham was visibly dismayed at being unable to find a dart set. Photo: Flashlight Films/Kobal/Shutterstock. In response to allegations that he allowed the execution of an innocent man, Perry was quoted as stating, "Willingham was a monster. But the investigators' conclusions have been strongly challenged by several fire experts. Stacy Kuykendall, Self: Evil Lives Here. Today's episode is the story of Toni Jo Henry who had a horrible childhood, fought drug addiction, found true love and then was involved in a murder. So where is Willinghams wife now? Rick Perry had done all he could to justify the 2004 execution of inmate Cameron Todd Willingham . Mar 11, 2015 at 10:07 am. "He admitted he did it and told me why," she said. In a legal brief responding to Hursts report, the prosecution argued that the execution should go ahead, and includedan affidavit from Willinghams former brother-in-law Ronnie Kuykendall. 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. Before the trial, he even refused to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. On 23 December 1991, the Corsicana home of Cameron Willingham burned. Stacy Kuykendall read a prepared statement to reporters outside the Travis County courthouse. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports the . Killed in the fire were Willingham's three daughters: two-year-old Amber Louise Kuykendall, and one-year-old twins, Karmen Diane Willingham and Kameron Marie Willingham. [5] However, there was no evidence of child abuse. "My ex-husband murdered my daughters . He was a mean person to me, but something like that, no., Willingham had written to Kuykendall, asking her to come visit. Around two weeks before the execution, Kuykendall went to see Willingham. 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. The Fire That Started & Ended It All. "[12], The prosecution claimed that Willingham may have been motivated by a desire to rid himself of unwanted children. "[16] There were two refrigerators in the Willingham house. AUSTIN, Tex. Please see the three Memorials: Amber Kuykendall-Willingham Memorial# 41759101 Karmen Willingham Memorial# 41759144 Kameron Willingham Memorial# 41759163. A spokeswoman for Governor Perry said he had weighed the "totality of the issues that led to (Willingham's) conviction." Bradley was appointed to the science commission post by Gov. Cameron was executed by lethal injection on February 17, 2004. Myth: . Craig Beyler, the chairman of the International Association of Fire Safety Science, wrote in a report last year that investigators didn't follow standards in place at the time and did not have enough evidence to make an arson finding. Death' says license won't be affected by allegations", "Execution Report: Cameron Willingham Page 1", "Jackson: Guest Commentary Willingham guilt never in doubt", "David Grann" The Prosecution Defends Itself", "A timeline of the Cameron Todd Willingham case", "Document USA (Texas): Further Information on Death penalty, Cameron Todd Willingham", "Inmate maintains innocence as execution approaches", "Man executed for fire that killed children", "Texas man executed for setting fire that killed his 3 young children", "Gerald Hurst | Death By Fire | FRONTLINE | PBS", "Dare Devils: Governor Rick Perry and the Texas Death Panel", "Texas Gov. I recently finished The Lost City of Z, David Grann's account of the British explorer Percy Fawcett's final journey in the Amazon basin, where . 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. In 2009, an investigative report by Grann[1] drew upon analysis by arson investigation experts and advances in fire science since the 1992 investigation; he suggested that the evidence for arson was unconvincing. [1], At Willingham's trial, Webb offered an explanation for the individual, distinguishable burns found on Amber's forehead and arm. On Sunday, Stacy Kuykendall the ex-wife of Cameron Todd Willingham gave her first public statement in years. Willingham himself escaped the home with only minor burns. Questions persist surrounding Cameron Todd Willingham's conviction and death sentence, but according to Stacy Kuykendall, who knew him better than anyone, Cameron is a monster who was guilty as charged and deserved to die. "[27], But Hurst said, "The whole case was based on the purest form of junk science. Dal momento che Willingham's Nell'esecuzione del 2004 , sono sorte importanti polemiche sulla legittimit del verdetto di colpevolezza e sull'interpretazione . Also, the prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of convict Johnny Webb, who testified that Willingham had confessed to him. The front porch was the only place where an accelerant was verified by laboratory tests, and a photograph taken of the house before the fire showed that a charcoal grill was there. STORY HIGHLIGHTS Craig Beyler's report criticized investigators who ruled the . "[28], Since Willingham's execution, persistent questions have been raised as to the accuracy of the forensic evidence used in the conviction: specifically, whether it can be proven that an accelerant (such as the lighter fluid mentioned above) was used to start the fatal fire. One of the most fascinating yet heartbreaking events in Americas legal system history is brought to the big screen with Trial By Fire. Cameron Todd Willingham's case raises strong opinions on many different levels, but some who defend his conviction and execution are distorting aspects of the case, and some of those distortions are being repeated or reported as fact. According to a tape recording of the conversation, Kuykendall made it clear that she still believed that Willingham was innocent and that he had no motive to hurt their children. Killed in the fire were Willingham's three daughters: two-year-old Amber Louise Kuykendall and one-year-old twins Karmon Diane Willingham and Kameron Marie Willingham. The State Fire Marshal's Office continues to stand behind the arson finding. When the recusal motion was denied, Thompson appealed to the Third Court of Appeals and had the proceedings stayed. The only other evidence of significance against Willingham was twice-recanted testimony by another inmate, who testified that Willingham had confessed to him. But tragically, their three young children were killed in the . Myth: Pic credit: Texas Dept. Corsicana Daily Sun His former probation officer, Polly Goodin, said he had never demonstrated bizarre or sociopathic behavior and that "He was probably one of my favorite kids.