Myth: The undeniable facts of the Cameron Todd Willingham case are these: On Dec. 23, 1991, 2-year-old Amber Louise Kuykendall, and 1-year-old twins Karmon Diane Willingham and Kameron Marie Willingham died in a mid-morning house fire at 1213 W. 11th Ave. in Corsicana. She said, firmly, that Willingham had never done so. 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 . Their daughters, 2-year-old Amber and her two younger identical twin sisters, 1-year-old Karmon and Kameron, all died from carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from the Innocence Project: Cameron Todd Willinghams 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. Myth: It is also tasked with determining what corrective action, if any, is needed to ensure that forensic analysis in cases like this is reliable. "[12], The prosecution claimed that Willingham may have been motivated by a desire to rid himself of unwanted children. Hurst said in December 2004 that "There's nothing to suggest to any reasonable arson investigator that this was an arson fire. The couple's three children died in a fire Dec. 23, 1991, at the family's Corsicana, Texas, home. 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? It seems unlikely that, moments after asking for this favor, he suddenly confessed to the murder of her children. Cameron Todd Willingham's Ex-Wife Stacy Kuykendall Says Texas Shouldn't Pardon Him [EXCLUSIVE] | HuffPost . ", "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. 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. Since her ex-husbands execution, Stacy Kuykendall has remained completely under the radar. "[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. No clear motive was found, and Willingham's wife denied that the couple had been fighting prior to the night of the fire. But tragically, their three young children were killed in the . In the statement, Willingham's ex-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, was quoted as telling family members that Willingham said "that he had set the fire because he knew she was going to leave him." The account came from Kuykendall's brother, Ronnie Kuykendall, in a statement to an investigator for the district attorney's office in 2004. 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. "[17], Commenting on the condition of the house, Jackson added, "any escape or rescue route from the burning house was blocked by a refrigerator, which had been pushed against the back door, requiring any person attempting an escape to run through the conflagration at the front of the house. On one fact, Willingham changed his story. Prueba de fuego est disponible en Netflix! . 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. There were far too many legal errors and turning a blind eye to the truth. Willingham's ex-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, has . Cameron Todd Willingham lying in his cell in 1994. 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. [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. 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? Neighbors described this group as having an odd levity, which was seen to turn somber on the arrival of authorities. (Scott Honea/Corsicana (Tex.) 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. Willinghams former probation officer and a judge both directly refute any notion that he was a sociopath. Oct. 14, 2010. The faulty forensic analysis and lack of other evidence doesnt matter because Willingham was a bad man and a sociopath, so he was guilty. At a local bar, where a fundraiser was held for the Willingham family, he placed an order for a replacement set, stating that "money was not a problem now. 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. 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. Their daughters killed in the 1991 fire were two and one (twins), and Willingham escaped. Willingham was not charged with spousal abuse; he was charged with murder. About Willingham's ex-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, even John Jackson (who prosecuted Willingham and . 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. Note to Stacy and Family: Many accounts refer to Amber as having lastname of Kuykendall and Willingham. Sad when people cant just tell the truth. Help us advocate for the innocent by sharing the latest news from the Innocence Project. 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. In the following days, Willingham returned to the house with some family and friends. As he recalled it, their conversation with Kuykendall centered directly on the question of Willinghams alleged confession. Willingham publicly maintained he was innocent until he was put to death in 2004. [1][19], At trial, the fire investigator Vasquez testified there were three points of origin for the fire, which indicated that the fire was "intentionally set by human hands. According to their sworn statements, both Brandice Barbee and Diane Barbee urged Willingham to return to the house to rescue his children. Stacy Kuykendall, Willingham's then-wife and the mother of his three daughters, was not home at the time of the fire . . )[39][40], In 2014, the Washington Post reported that new evidence emerged indicating that Webb had said in taped interviews that he lied on the witness stand in exchange for a prosecutor's help obtaining a reduced prison term and financial support from a rich rancher. All concluded that the original investigators relied on outdated theories and folklore to justify the determination of arson. So where is Willinghams wife now? 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. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . [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." 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. [34] "It's hard for me to make heads or tails of anything she said or didn't say," Willingham's prosecutor said. Pic credit: Texas Dept. 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. Descubre qu pasa hoy con Stacy Kuykendall, ex esposa de Cameron Willingham! Is anyone feeling that the mom has strong narcissistic vibes, I worked on both cases. He's just not.". Cameron Todd Willingham, shown with his then-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, and their daughters, was executed in 2004. "[1] A sample of burned material near the doorway of the house tested positive for mineral spirits, indicating the presence of lighter fluid. [1], At Willingham's trial, Webb offered an explanation for the individual, distinguishable burns found on Amber's forehead and arm. stacy willingham married. [16], But journalist David Grann reported that "there is evidence that Willingham hit his wife, even when she was pregnant, but there were no police reports or medical evidence indicating that Willingham had tried to abort or kill his children." All Rights Reserved. March 9, 2015. Each time, she said that she and Todd had not fought the night before the blaze, and that they had gone to Kmart to pick up photographs of the family to get ready for their Christmas celebration. [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. Born Today Most Popular Celebs Most Popular Celebs Celebrity News. January 9, 1968 - February 16, 2004 . 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.. "My ex-husband murdered my daughters . Si quieres saber en qu se convierte Stacy Kuykendall hoy, Sigue leyendo! [37], In 2010, the Innocence Project filed a lawsuit against the State of Texas, seeking a judgment of "official oppression. But tragically, their three young children were killed in the blaze. [citation needed], In addition to the arson evidence presented at the trial, a jailhouse informant named Johnny Webb testified at that time. 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 . 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. 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. In response to allegations that he allowed the execution of an innocent man, Perry was quoted as stating, "Willingham was a monster. Jackson said Willingham had abused animals and was a sociopath. https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.investigationdiscovery.com%2Ftv-shows%2Fevil-lives-here%2Ffull-episodes%2Fwhat-if-he-was-innocent%3Ffbclid%3. [26] Neither responded to Willingham's appeals. [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. Emily Meade as Stacey in "Trial By Fire.". Willingham's three children -- 2-year-old Amber Kuykendall and 1-year-old twins Karmon and Kameron Willingham, died of smoke inhalation. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. [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. On Jan. 8, the night before Willingham's 24th birthday, he was arrested by a SWAT team. Myth: Cameron was executed by lethal injection on February 17, 2004. On December 23, 1991, a fire enveloped the home of Todd and Stacey in Corsicana, Texas. Shes given very different stories about what happened on this particular day right up to the date of his execution, Jackson said. "[6], Prosecutor John Jackson noted that Webb was considered unreliable, but he later supported an early release from prison for Webb. [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. She told reporters thatWillingham set the fire that killed the girls "and watched while their tiny bodies burned.". All rights reserved, Man Shot by Fort Worth Officer After Reaching for Gun in Waistband: Police, Fort Worth Music Festival Happening at Fort Worth Stockyards, Novak Djokovic Denied' US Entry Ahead Of Indian Wells, Joe Biden Asked To Intervene, Barbara Corcoran Says Meeting Mark Cuban Was Her Most Embarrassing Moment' on Shark Tank' Here's Why, 3 Children Killed, 2 Wounded in Ellis County Home; 1 in Custody: Sheriff. "[16] There were two refrigerators in the Willingham house. [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. [12] All twenty of the indications listed by Vasquez of an accelerant being used were rebutted by Hurst,[1] who concluded there was "no evidence of arson" the same conclusion reached by other fire investigators. Cameron Todd Willingham during a 2004 death-row interview just before his execution. Willingham escaped the home with only minor burns. If Stacy will advise, I will be happy to make correction. 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. 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. Todd told me that it was stupid but it was like an obsession. "He admitted he did it and told me why," she said. He said that he woke up to her cry of Daddy, Daddy. Willingham said he woke up and saw smoke hovering a few feet above him, then jumped up from the bed where Ambers body would later be found, put on his pants and ran to the kids room where all he could see was fire. By David Grann. "[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). Cameron Todd Willingham, 36, was executed by lethal injection on 17 February 2004 in Huntsville, Texas for the murder of his three children. 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. That was until she spoke to . Our justice system has become who can twist a believable story, not the truth. [16] However, those not associated with the case paint a different picture of Willingham. cemeteries found in Simpson, Marshall County, Oklahoma, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list.. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list.. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list.. Reports from arson experts who reviewed the case have been exaggerated; the experts dont really say the fire was not arson. 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. Kuykendall has acknowledged that Willingham had asked to see her to help him in his bid for clemency. He always said he heard his daughter crying, woke up, tried to get his children but couldnt, and exited the house. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. Unfortunately, by then, Kuykendall had been swayed by the other court documents and findings. She provided a statement to the Fort Worth . Friends of the family testified that Willingham had beaten his wife in an . He said that a picture of a fist punching through a skull signified violence and death. After Todd was arrested and told his family that he didnt do this, I had to believe that he was telling us the truth. "[1], Webb and Jackson consistently denied that Webb was offered a sentence reduction in return for his testimony against Willingham. "[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. 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. Baird has twice sat on courts considering Willingham's appeal and once won an award from the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Do you, This was definitely in IL because we are friends with, Hi. Movies. 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. Where Is Stacey Willingham From Trial By Fire In 2019? This was taken as evidence that the accelerant was poured by Willingham as he left the house. 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]. He was executed in 2004, after Perry turned down his final appeal despite evidence from a renowned fire expert that there was not enough evidence to support the arson determination. 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. "He was polite, and he seemed to care," she said. Found the resolution to each, I know who really killed Chanin, her husband did not, I have so many questions about this story. 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. During his trial, Willingham did not testify; the defense called only one witness, the Willinghams' babysitter, who stated that she believed that Willingham could not have killed his children. The case was discussed again in a 2009 investigative report in The New Yorker. Rick Perry had done all he could to justify the 2004 execution of inmate Cameron Todd Willingham . He said he was prescribed many medications at that point while being treated for bipolar disorder. 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. His report was sent to authorities asking to postpone the execution. Willingham himself escaped the home with only minor burns. October 26, 2009. 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. Willingham'sex-wifetearfully reiterated her contention Wednesday that he confessed his guilt to her. It was a heartbreaking, heartless death sentence. When Willingham was arrested, he vigorously professed his innocence. 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. This is because Willingham was anything but that; he regularly verbally abused and beat his wife, and in some of these instances, the police was called. He did not. Mills, who is still at theTribune, confirms Possleys account. "It didn't have [anything] to do with the fire," Fogg said. Church recalls, I point-blank asked Kuykendall, Did he confess his guilt? And she said, No.. On Sunday, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported, "Stacy Kuykendall's statement about the 1991 fire." Stacy Kuykendall, the ex-wife of Cameron Todd Willingham, offers her first detailed account of the 1991 fire that claimed the lives of her three daughters and led to Willingham's execution in 2004. It was an unusual hearing . 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 . 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. Mar 11, 2015 at 10:07 am. Cameron Todd Willingham, of Texas, was the husband of Stacy Willingham and the loving father of three young girls.There is a reason why I did not include the word 'loving' in front of the word 'husband'. 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 . Yet Kuykendall continued to give the same version of events long after the fire and after she and Willingham were divorced. Also, the prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of convict Johnny Webb, who testified that Willingham had confessed to him. STORY HIGHLIGHTS Craig Beyler's report criticized investigators who ruled the . 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. [44], Incendiary: The Willingham Case, a 2011 documentary film covering the case and its aftermath, won the Louis Black Award at the South by Southwest Film Festival. How Did Cameron Todd Willingham Die? Authorities had to restrain Willingham from going back into the house. The State Fire Marshal's Office continues to stand behind the arson finding. Deleted member 31923. as Tracy Kuykendall (l.) comforts his sister Stacy Kuykendall, the ex-wife of Cameron Todd Willingham. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He was executed on February 17, 2004, aged 36. One of the most fascinating yet heartbreaking events in Americas legal system history is brought to the big screen with Trial By Fire. Myth: My girls would have been 23 and 21 years old today. The 3rd Court of Appeals ordered state District Judge Charlie Baird to not rule on the case of Cameron Todd Willingham. Facebook gives people the power to. Willinghams statements to law enforcement officials were remarkably consistent, even under intense interrogation, and remained consistent over the course of a decade. 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. If he had pleaded guilty, he would most likely have been sentenced to life in prison. 1. Daily Sun) CORSICANA . 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. But a few days before that meeting, Perry removed three members of the commission and appointed Bradley, a conservative ally, as its chairman. Prior to his death, he was expelled by the American Psychiatric Association and the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians for unethical conduct. [1] Grigson had served as an expert witness for the prosecution in murder trials across the state of Texas. 2023 Innocence Project. Its hard for me to make heads or tails of anything she said or didnt say., Your email address will not be published. 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 .