"And they want to make Willingham that poster boy. Willingham's Stepmother Responds | The New Yorker Stacy Kuykendall read a prepared statement to reporters outside the Travis County courthouse. Facebook gives people the power to. He's just not.". 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. Willingham's case and the investigative techniques were criticized by a 2004 Chicago Tribune article. Willingham had escaped the fire with bare feet and no burn marks. Cameron Todd Willingham's Real Last Words - Medium Cameron Todd Willingham | Found a Grave Her statement is curious. "My ex-husband murdered my daughters, and just before he was executed, he told me he did it," Kuykendall said. In recreations with rooms involved in intense fires, experts can safely stand by a door seconds before flashover, and Willingham could have stood close to the childrens room without being harmed. Woman who witnessed 300 executions haunted by child killer's death Cameron Todd Willingham #899 - clarkprosecutor.org 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. 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. Willingham was executed in 2004. 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. She noted that he had an inadequate defense, saying of one of his lawyers, Hes not a good lawyer. Cameron Todd Willingham - Interesting stories about famous people The couple's three children died in a fire Dec. 23, 1991, at the family's Corsicana, Texas, home. February 27, 2023 Bradley subsequently canceled the meeting amid accusations that Perry was interfering with the inquiry. The Texas Forensic Science Commission is going to determine whether Willingham was innocent. He wrote, "Willingham's wife insisted during the trial and under interrogation that Willingham had not physically abused the children. Yesterday, Possley, who is now an investigative researcher for the Northern California Innocence Project, at Santa Clara University School of Law, told me that he had no doubt that what he and Mills reported is accurate. He added that Willingham's Led Zeppelin poster of a fallen angel was "many times" an indicator of "cultive-type" activities. On December 23, 1991, a fire destroyed the family home of Cameron Todd Willingham in Corsicana, Texas. 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. 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]. Write by: . Willingham's statement and eyewitness accounts had detailed rescue attempts. Did Rick Perry murder an innocent man (Cameron Todd Willingham)? "[6], Prosecutor John Jackson noted that Webb was considered unreliable, but he later supported an early release from prison for Webb. But she never mentioned a confession. Corsicana Daily Sun Todd told me that it was stupid but it was like an obsession. The opinions of a state fire official in the case were "nothing more than a collection of personal beliefs that have nothing to do with science-based fire investigation," Beyler wrote. The faulty forensic analysis and lack of other evidence doesnt matter because Willingham was a bad man and a sociopath, so he was guilty. Fresh doubts over a Texas execution | The Washington Post Facebook Accidental Fire or Murder? The Story of Cameron Todd Willingham He was executed on February 17, 2004, aged 36. Perhaps most notably, Hurst was able to explain the presence of lighter fluid at the scene: a charcoal grill which had been used . Scientific experts have conducted experiments with identical fires and Willinghams burns are normal for this type of fire. Myths and Facts about the Willingham Case - Innocence Project During the penalty phase of the trial, she testified under oath. Several witnesses testified for the prosecution. We provide you with news from the entertainment industry . . In the case, Willingham refused an offer to plead guilty in return for a life sentence. In her most recent statement explaining why she had once defended Willingham, she said. 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. Then, after he had been sentenced to death and executed, other people began to say Cameron Todd Willingham was wrongfully convicted and that the court put an innocent man to death. 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. His testimony has been criticized as contentious for several reasons. "[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. The Supposed Willingham Confession - The Texas Observer 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 (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. The Controversial Execution of Cameron Todd Willingham "It didn't have [anything] to do with the fire," Fogg said. 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. Stacy Kuykendall Willinghamgirlslivesmattered Murder of his three young children by Cameron Todd Willingham examined "What they are interested in is finding the poster boy for the abolition of the death penalty," Bradley said. stacy willingham married. Cameron Todd Willingham's Ex-Wife Stacy Kuykendall Says Texas Shouldn't Pardon Him [EXCLUSIVE] | HuffPost. Other witnesses at Willinghams trial provided contradictory statements about Willinghams behavior after the fire, but those statements were not evidence that a crime had taken place. In 2004, Stacy Kuykendall told the Chicago Tribune that he never confessed, and she said the same to The New Yorker in 2009. If he had pleaded guilty, he would most likely have been sentenced to life in prison. Testimony from fire investigators was the primary evidence against Willingham. Kuykendall voice began quavering early in her statement, as she noted her oldest daughter would be 21 and her twins would be 19. STORY HIGHLIGHTS Craig Beyler's report criticized investigators who ruled the . Willingham was accused of arson . [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." 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 . 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. . [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. I was 21, just lost all my children and now everyone expected me to believe that their father did this. Any one can make a story seem real. Arson admission alleged - Chicago Tribune Stacy Kuykendall, his then-wife, played a . Church recalls, I point-blank asked Kuykendall, Did he confess his guilt? And she said, No.. 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. Dylan Eason and Isaiah Churchwell were convicted of murdering Cynthia William "Patrick" Alexander remains in prison for murder. Willingham himself escaped the home with only minor burns. 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. This week on Reasonable Doubt, the team takes on the Raul and Cathy Sarinana were sentenced to death for abusing Would love your thoughts, please comment. Stacy Kuykendall, Willingham's then-wife and the mother of his three daughters, was not home at the time of the fire. Willinghams statements to law enforcement officials were remarkably consistent, even under intense interrogation, and remained consistent over the course of a decade. The New Yorker's David Grann: Stacy Speaks - Cameron Todd Willingham 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. List of people executed in Texas, 20002009, List of people executed in the United States in 2004, List of wrongful convictions in the United States, "Trial by Fire: Did Texas execute an innocent man? "[1], Webb and Jackson consistently denied that Webb was offered a sentence reduction in return for his testimony against Willingham. It seems unlikely that, moments after asking for this favor, he suddenly confessed to the murder of her children. The commission was never asked to determine whether Willingham was innocent, and was never going to reach a conclusion on his innocence. His then-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, was, too, convinced of his innocence until ultimately believing he was guilty. He suggested that, had this information been available at the time of trial, it would have provided grounds for Willingham's acquittal. 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. January 9, 1968 - February 16, 2004 . "My ex-husband murdered my daughters . Si quieres saber en qu se convierte Stacy Kuykendall hoy, Sigue leyendo! The forensic analysis is what determined that a crime had been committed in the first place. Stacy Kuykendall read a prepared statement to reporters outside the Travis County courthouse . The case was discussed again in a 2009 investigative report in The New Yorker. Emily Meade as Stacey in "Trial By Fire.". Hes never hurt those kids, she said. . There is credible and reliable new information that Willingham confessed to his ex-wife. 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 . Willingham said that he never encountered Amber in those initial moments and theorized that Amber had left the kids room via a hall that led both to the front door and to another entrance to his bedroom and thats how he missed her. There were far too many legal errors and turning a blind eye to the truth. What are now being described as Willinghams inconsistencies dont come from Willingham at all they are recollections from hearsay witnesses, virtually none of whom testified at trial or were cross-examined. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Found the resolution to each, I know who really killed Chanin, her husband did not, I have so many questions about this story. (Thompson later received an award from the Texas District and County Attorneys Association for this motion and appeal. Is Cameron Todd Willingham Dead or Alive? How Did Cameron Todd 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. The State Fire Marshal's Office continues to stand behind the arson finding. The defense did not present a fire expert because the one hired by Willingham's attorney also said the fire was caused by arson. In August 2009, eighteen years after the fire and five years after Willingham's execution, a report conducted by Dr. Craig Beyler, hired by the Texas Forensic Science Commission to review the case, found that "a finding of arson could not be sustained." Webb later asked, "The statute of limitations has run out on perjury, hasn't it? When Willingham was arrested, he vigorously professed his innocence. A Life Cut Short: Todd Willingham Photos - ABC News He spoke about the contradictions between Kuykendalls public statements and her brothers affidavit. Evil Lives Here is examing a shocking case involving the murder of three young children through an act of arson by their father, Cameron Todd Willingham, in Corsicana, Texas, in 1991. Kuykendall played a major role in Willinghams life and fate, but in the movie version she is quite prominent. Here are five crucial facts about the case. [6], The prosecutor also said that Willingham was a serial wife abuser, both physically and emotionally. The Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. If Stacy will advise, I will be happy to make correction. Family's Effort to Clear Name Frames Debate on Executions. [42] According to the complaint, "During a pretrial hearing on July 24, 1992, [Jackson] told the trial court that he had no evidence favorable to Willingham. S9 E1: Some say Cameron Todd Willingham was wrongfully convicted, and the court put an innocent man to death. 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 in a 1991 house fire. [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. But a few days before that meeting, Perry removed three members of the commission and appointed Bradley, a conservative ally, as its chairman. Cameron Todd Willingham "Rising from the Ashes" # - YouTube 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. "[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). "[17] The testimony at trial of Johnny Webb, a jailhouse informant, suggested that Willingham had set the fire in order to cover up an injury or death of one of the children due to his wife's actions. Some say Cameron Todd Willingham was wrongfully convicted, and the court put an innocent man to death. Two prosecution experts who testified that Willingham was a sociopath had never met him; one was expelled from his professional association three years later for unethical behavior. Commissioners last month rejected Bradley's efforts to close the case and conclude that fire investigators did not commit professional misconduct. 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. Willingham's attorneys were not notified. He always said he heard his daughter crying, woke up, tried to get his children but couldnt, and exited the house. Many of those hearsay witnesses statements evolved and hardened once they knew Willingham was a suspect in the case. His testimony has since been deemed unreliable as he lied in court about the prosecution offering him a reduced sentence to testify. "[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. He admitted he burnt them to me, and he was convicted for his crime. David Grann: Stacy Speaks | The New Yorker [33] In 2010, she declared, "Todd murdered Amber, Karmon, and Kameron. Willingham explained that he moved his car because he was afraid fuel in the car would cause the fire to get much worse. "[16] There were two refrigerators in the Willingham house. Willingham'sex-wifetearfully reiterated her contention Wednesday that he confessed his guilt to her. Rick Perry in what many viewed as a political move to bury new evidence that cast doubt on Willingham's guilt. About Willingham's ex-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, even John Jackson (who prosecuted Willingham and . She never mentioned that she intended to divorce Willingham, whom she had married three months earlier. The science commission is still looking into whether investigators were negligent in ruling the fire was caused by arson. On Jan. 8, the night before Willingham's 24th birthday, he was arrested by a SWAT team. They married a few months before the fire and were a significant part of each others lives. [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. Reports from arson experts who reviewed the case have been exaggerated; the experts dont really say the fire was not arson. a husband returns home to find his wife dead on the living room floor; he tells first responders she committed suicide . Documentary Feb 14, 2021 42 min. In response to allegations that he allowed the execution of an innocent man, Perry was quoted as stating, "Willingham was a monster. While Willingham always insisted he was innocent, later evidence suggested he was wrongly convicted and executed. "He admitted he did it and told me why," she said. Throughout the process, Stacy Kuykendall, Willingham's former wife and the mother of the three victims, has maintained that he was guilty of the murders. Evil Lives Here: What If He Was Innocent? episode 1. season 9. TvProfil But the investigators' conclusions have been strongly challenged by several fire experts. Where Is Stacey Willingham From Trial By Fire In 2019? - Refinery29 Execution Report: Cameron Willingham - Page 1 He told me that he believed I was going to but he couldnt let that happen. On 23 December 1991, the Corsicana home of Cameron Willingham burned. [3] A 2011 documentary, Incendiary: The Willingham Case, also explored the case. Trial By Fire | Cherry Avenue True Crime While I was reporting myNew Yorker article, I tried to talk to Stacy Kuykendall, but she said that she no longer wanted to discuss the case. [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. 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. Vasquez asked her if he ever abused the children. "[12], The prosecution claimed that Willingham may have been motivated by a desire to rid himself of unwanted children. 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. [1] Grigson had served as an expert witness for the prosecution in murder trials across the state of Texas. The late Texas native was arrested, tried, convicted, and executed for the murders of his three toddler daughters by arson in their family home on December 23, 1991. Did Todd Willingham confess or did Stacy Kuykendall lie? - Blogger 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. [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. "[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. . 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. Within 5 kilometers of your location.