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Jimmie Hensley, a police detective, and Douglas Fogg, the assistant fire chief who both investigated the fire told Grann that they had never believed that the refrigerator was part of the arson plot. Willingham's ex-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, has . Willingham's Stepmother Responds. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. On December 23, 1991, a fire enveloped the home of Todd and Stacey in Corsicana, Texas. Hurst individually discredited each piece of arson evidence, using publicly supported experiments backed by his re-creation of the elements in question, the most notable being the Lime Street fire, which created the unique 3-point burn patterns flashover. "[11], The prosecution sought to establish that Willingham's conduct at the time of the fire and in the days afterward was suspicious. 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. 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 spokeswoman added he was aware of a "claim of a reinterpretation of (the) arson testimony. AUSTIN Nine days before Cameron Todd Willingham was to be executed for setting a house fire that killed his three daughters, his ex-wife called her family together to tearfully recount a . Cameron Todd Willingham's Ex-Wife Stacy Kuykendall Says Texas Shouldn't Pardon Him [EXCLUSIVE] | HuffPost . Jackson stated that Willingham's comment was an indicator of guilt. Cameron Todd Willingham Just when it seemed Gov. 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. He spoke about the contradictions between Kuykendalls public statements and her brothers affidavit. Beyler said key testimony from a fire marshal at Willingham's trial was "hardly consistent with a scientific mind-set and is more characteristic of mystics or psychics."[1][2]. While Willingham always insisted he was innocent, later evidence suggested he was wrongly convicted and executed. Shes given very different stories about what happened on this particular day right up to the date of his execution, Jackson said. (Thompson later received an award from the Texas District and County Attorneys Association for this motion and appeal. There has been serious doubt expressed over the validity of Willinghams conviction. 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. [16] In a 2009 article discussing the reasons why Willingham was found guilty, Jackson recalled witness statements establishing that Willingham was overheard whispering to his deceased older daughter at the funeral home, "You're not the one who was supposed to die." Stacy Kuykendall, Self: Evil Lives Here. . [32][33], Journalists familiar with the case noted that Stacy Kuykendall's statement explicitly contradicted previous comments, legal testimony, and numerous published interviews before and after the execution. Kuykendall and Willingham had a tumultuous past and both had come from troubled backgrounds. However, Cameron maintained his innocence to his dying breath, and later evidence also suggested that he could have been wrongly executed. The science commission is still looking into whether investigators were negligent in ruling the fire was caused by arson. His wife Stacey was out Christmas shopping at the time. The couple's three children died in a fire Dec. 23, 1991, at the family's Corsicana, Texas, home. [5] However, there was no evidence of child abuse. "[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. According to the affidavits, Willingham's ex-wife had told Ronnie that Willingham confessed to her that he had set the fire. After the fire, police and fire investigators interrogated Kuykendall. "What they are interested in is finding the poster boy for the abolition of the death penalty," Bradley said. When Willingham exited his bedroom, the hallway was not yet on fire; the fire was contained in the childrens bedroom. A disputed arson finding made by a pair of fire investigators following the 1991 deaths of Willingham's daughters is at the heart of the case. [31], In October 2009, the city of Corsicana released two affidavits that included statements from Ronnie Kuykendall, the former brother-in-law of Willingham, originally made in 2004. 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. We are evil when it comes to justice. [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. : Directed by Phoebe Kwong, Joel Pincosy. STORY HIGHLIGHTS Craig Beyler's report criticized investigators who ruled the . By David Grann. Any one can make a story seem real. "[1] A sample of burned material near the doorway of the house tested positive for mineral spirits, indicating the presence of lighter fluid. Willingham, 36, gave his ex-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, the middle finger with his right hand as it was strapped to the gurney that evening in February 2004. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Last Sunday, in a statement to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Cameron Todd Willingham's former wife, Stacy Kuykendall . 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. "[36], A four-person panel of the Texas Forensic Science Commission investigating evidence of arson presented in the case acknowledged on July 23, 2010, that state and local arson investigators used "flawed science" in determining that the blaze had been deliberately set. The order comes at the end of a day of testimony. In his letter, Willingham insisted that he was innocent: I hope that after I am gone that some day, some how the truth will be known and my name cleared.. Prior to his death, he was expelled by the American Psychiatric Association and the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians for unethical conduct. Willingham, played . October 27, 2009, 12:00 AM, CDT. 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 convict him of arson and murder. [29] Fire investigator Gerald L. Hurst reviewed the case documents, including the trial transcriptions and an hour-long videotape of the aftermath of the fire scene. 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. Neighbors described this group as having an odd levity, which was seen to turn somber on the arrival of authorities. Navarro County District Attorney R. Lowell Thompson is seeking Baird's removal. Willingham's case and the investigative techniques were criticized by a 2004 Chicago Tribune article. When I recently spoke to Tina Church, a private investigator who worked on Willinghams behalf, she told me that she had spoken to Kuykendall right after their meeting in prison. Stacy Kuykendall, his then-wife, played a . She told reporters thatWillingham set the fire that killed the girls "and watched while their tiny bodies burned.". It's very difficult to review this case, as there, The FBi has been murdering people for years since their, Clearly its hard for some people to understand that although, What is taking so long? Willingham escaped the home with only minor burns. I was 21, just lost all my children and now everyone expected me to believe that their father did this. 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. "[12], The prosecution claimed that Willingham may have been motivated by a desire to rid himself of unwanted children. A judge has postponed a hearing in Austin until next week in the case of a Texas man executed for setting fire to his home and killing his three daughters. "[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. [25], Hurst's report was sent to governor Rick Perry's office, as well as the Board of Pardons and Paroles along with Willingham's appeal for clemency. Dal momento che Willingham's Nell'esecuzione del 2004 , sono sorte importanti polemiche sulla legittimit del verdetto di colpevolezza e sull'interpretazione . [18] During his trial in August 1992, he was offered a life term in exchange for a guilty plea, which he turned down, insisting he was innocent. They married a few months before the fire and were a significant part of each others lives. Do you, This was definitely in IL because we are friends with, Hi. 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. Willinghams ex-wife said that he hit her but never tried to hurt the children. Willingham was executed in 2004. 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. He's just not.". Cameron Todd Willingham : biography. "And they want to make Willingham that poster boy. In the case, Willingham refused an offer to plead guilty in return for a life sentence. In a rebuttal, Grann wrote, "If the arson investigators had concluded that there was no scientific evidence that a crime had occurred as the top fire investigators in the country have now determined Willingham's words at the funeral would surely be viewed as a sign that he was tormented by the fact that he had survived without saving his children. 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. Pic credit: Texas Dept. But tragically, their three young children were killed in the blaze. She said, If I said it, then its true., In the course of reporting my story, I also spoke to John Jackson, who prosecuted Willingham. Cameron Todd Willingham (9 gennaio 1968 - 17 febbraio 2004) stato un uomo americano condannato e giustiziato per l'omicidio dei suoi tre figli per incendio doloso nella casa di famiglia a Corsicana, in Texas , il 23 dicembre 1991. About Willingham's ex-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, even John Jackson (who prosecuted Willingham and . Other than a jailhouse informant who has been solidly discredited (and who recently asked when the statute of limitations for perjury runs out), the forensic analysis was the only evidence that a crime occurred. Willingham'sex-wifetearfully reiterated her contention Wednesday that he confessed his guilt to her. [3] Both were sharply critical of Beyler. He admitted that he exaggerated having gone inside the babies room (he said he wanted to sound brave and feared that people would think he was a coward for not going into the burning room). The investigators also found charring under the aluminum front doorjamb, which they believed was a further indication of a liquid accelerant and tested positive for such an accelerant in the area of the front door. wife, Stacy. Press "Enter" or click on the arrow to show results. March 9, 2015. The prosecutor, John Jackson, and the City of Corsicana have both released formal responses to the Beyler Report on the investigation of the fire that killed Willingham's three children at the behest of the Texas Forensic Science Commission. Stacy Kuykendall is known for Evil Lives Here (2016). Ken Light. As far back as 1969, scientific experts published findings that some of the very indicators of arson used in the Willingham case were unreliable and could be misinterpreted. Stacy Kuykendall visited Willingham shortly before the execution, which is when he supposedly confessed. Stacy Kuykendall read a prepared statement to reporters outside the Travis County courthouse. as Tracy Kuykendall (l.) comforts his sister Stacy Kuykendall, the ex-wife of Cameron Todd Willingham. On seeing neighbor Diane Barbee, Willingham began to shout at her to call 911, shouting "My babies are in there! With Bob Gallagher, Amber Louise Kuykendall, Stacy Kuykendall, Kameron Marie Willingham. Willingham was accused of arson . Myth: Two medical experts confirmed the theory. 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 . Cameron Todd Willingham, shown with his then-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, and their daughters, was executed in 2004. Sad when people cant just tell the truth. In 1999, she spoke to Elizabeth Gilbert, a teacher and playwright from Houston who had begun to investigate Willinghams case. Menu. Prueba de fuego est disponible en Netflix! 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. She also previously campaigned for his release and wrote to the governor of Texas, I know him in ways that no one else does when it comes to our children. While its now clear that the forensic analysis was wrong, we couldnt have known that with the science at the time. 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 . In her most recent statement explaining why she had once defended Willingham, she said. Todd is guilty, the criminal justice system and the courts confirmed his guilt, and he should not be pardoned for his crimes, Kuykendall said at the time. [1], In 2009, John Jackson, the prosecutor at the trial, stated that burns suffered by Willingham were "so superficial as to suggest that the same were self-inflicted in an attempt to divert suspicion from himself. 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]. Stacy Kuykendall, Willingham's then-wife and the mother of his three daughters, was not home at the time of the fire . He was a mean person to me, but something like that, no., Willingham had written to Kuykendall, asking her to come visit. [20] While on death row, Willingham was initially incarcerated in the Ellis Unit,[1] and later in the Polunsky Unit.[21]. Write by: . "I spent years not knowing, but Todd gave me that. Rick Perry had done all he could to justify the 2004 execution of inmate Cameron Todd Willingham . A psychologist was asked to interpret Willingham's Iron Maiden poster. "[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. This was taken as evidence that the accelerant was poured by Willingham as he left the house. That was until she spoke to him shortly before his execution. 982 Followers, 33 Following, 49 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Stacy Kuykendall Willinghamgirlslivesmattered (@willinghamgirlslivesmattered) The case was complicated by allegations that Texas Governor Rick Perry impeded the investigation by replacing three of the nine Forensic Commission members to change the Commission's findings; Perry denies the allegations.[4]. What If He Was Innocent? Willingham's three children -- 2-year-old Amber Kuykendall and 1-year-old twins Karmon and Kameron Willingham, died of smoke inhalation. Stacy Kuykendall, Willingham's then-wife and the mother of his three daughters, was not home at the time of the fire. The faulty forensic analysis and lack of other evidence doesnt matter because Willingham was a bad man and a sociopath, so he was guilty. No clear motive was found, and Willingham's wife denied that the couple had been fighting prior to the night of the fire. 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. Evidence of such a deal would have eliminated Webb's testimony. There is credible and reliable new information that Willingham confessed to his ex-wife. In February 2014, The New York Times reported that the Innocence Project investigators said that they had discovered a handwritten note in Webb's files indicating that such a deal was in play. Me and Stacys been together for four years, but off and on we get into a fight and split up for a while and I think those babies is what brought us so close together, Willingham had said, per The New Yorker. "[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. The Fire That Started & Ended It All. The investigators concluded that the fire had been started deliberately. On October 25, Stacy Kuykendall told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that during a final prison meeting just weeks before he was put to death, Willingham admitted setting the fire in response to Stacy's alleged threats of divorce the night before. Before the trial, he even refused to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. . I miss them so much., While Kuykendall was in Willinghams corner and also persistent about his innocence for years, she changed her stance shortly before his execution.I read that Todds stepmom and cousin are asking the governor for a pardon. He was a guy who murdered his three children, who tried to beat his wife into an abortion so that he wouldn't have those kids. He wrote, "Willingham's wife insisted during the trial and under interrogation that Willingham had not physically abused the children. By Maurice Possley, The Marshall Project. 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.