JoeB131
Diamond Member
This is a name you will be hearing a lot of in the next year, as Rick Perry challenges the Community Organizer.
In short, Willingham was executed in 2004 for the deaths by arson of his three infant daughters. But the usual suspects want to claim this guy was innocent and that Perry had executed an innocent man.
So was Willingham innocent?
Cameron Todd Willingham #899
Ah, but what about those wonderful "Last words" where he proclaimed his innocence?
Convict in disputed execution was guilty, ex-wife says - CNN
Yup, honestly, you guys should dig up the man's corpse and embrace it.
In short, Willingham was executed in 2004 for the deaths by arson of his three infant daughters. But the usual suspects want to claim this guy was innocent and that Perry had executed an innocent man.
So was Willingham innocent?
Cameron Todd Willingham #899
Two days before Christmas in 1991, Willingham poured a combustible liquid on the floor throughout his home and intentionally set the house on fire, resulting in the death of his three children. According to autopsy reports, Amber, age two, and twins Karmon and Kameron, age 1, died of acute carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of smoke inhalation. Neighbors of Willingham testified that as the house began smoldering, Willingham was crouched down in the front yard, and despite the neighbors pleas, refused to go into the house in any attempt to rescue the children. An expert witness for the State testified that the floors, front threshold, and front concrete porch were burned, which only occurs when an accelerant has been used to purposely burn these areas. The witness further testified that this igniting of the floors and thresholds is typically employed to impede firemen in their rescue attempts. The testimony at trial demonstrates that Willingham neither showed remorse for his actions nor grieved the loss of his three children. Willinghams neighbors testified that when the fire blew out the windows, Willingham hollered about his car and ran to move it away from the fire to avoid its being damaged. A fire fighter also testified that Willingham was upset that his dart board was burned. Willingham told authorities that the fire started while he and the children were asleep. An investigation revealed that it was intentionally set with a flammable liquid. His claims of heroic effort to save the girls were not borne out by his unscathed escape with little smoke in his lungs.
Ah, but what about those wonderful "Last words" where he proclaimed his innocence?
"The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. From God's dust I came and to dust I will return so the Earth shall become my throne. I gotta go, Road Dog." He expressed love to someone named Gabby and then addressed his ex-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, who was watching about 8 feet away through a window and said several times, "I hope you rot in Hell, bitch." He then attempted to maneuver his hand, strapped at the wrist, into an obscene gesture. His former wife showed no reaction to the outburst.
Convict in disputed execution was guilty, ex-wife says - CNN
Willingham's ex-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, has kept a low profile throughout the debate over his execution. But she told reporters outside the Travis County courthouse in Austin that "I am here to make sure that my daughters' voices are heard."
"Todd murdered Amber, Karmon and Kameron. He burnt them," she said. "He admitted he burnt them to me, and he was convicted for his crime. That is the closest to justice that my daughters will ever get."
Yup, honestly, you guys should dig up the man's corpse and embrace it.