Malowney testified that the felonies of which appellant was convicted are as follows: Gender: Male Willingham v. Texas, 116 S.Ct. The testimony at trial demonstrates that Willingham neither showed remorse for his actions nor grieved the loss of his three children. National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty Willingham argued that his ex-wife's boyfriend started the blaze, but the jury in his 1992 trial delivered a guilty verdict and the death penalty. He told her repeatedly in obscenity-laced language that he hoped she would "rot in hell" and attempted to maneuver his hand, strapped at the wrist, into an obscene gesture. "However, I'd predict that this sentence would be carried out unless some unforeseen constitutionality issue comes up. Willingham's wife initially supported him and testified on his behalf at his 1992 trial. Prosecutors contended he just wanted to get rid of the children. Failed to report flower. Weve updated the security on the site. Obituaries Section. Judge McGregor denied Reaves' request, set the execution date for Feb. 17, and ordered Willingham returned to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to await the carrying out of his sentence. Mr. Willingham was sentenced to death based largely on the testimony of the controversial James Grigson, known as Dr. 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. Next, he expressed love to someone named Gabby, then hurled obscenities at Kuykendall, who was watching from an observation room. A firefighter testified that Willingham showed no grief over his children's deaths, but became upset upon discovering that his dart board was burned. He has been convicted of numerous felonies and misdemeanors, both as an adult and as a juvenile, and attempts at various forms of rehabilitation have proven unsuccessful. Appellant contends, in point of error number four, that the evidence is insufficient to support the jury's answers to the special issues submitted in the punishment phase of the trial, particularly: (a) that the evidence is insufficient to support the finding that appellant is a continuing threat to society, and (b) that the evidence is insufficient to support a finding that mitigating circumstances would not warrant a life sentence. 2915, 115 L.Ed.2d 1078 (1991). Youll get hints when we find information about your relatives . Petitioner's petition for a writ of habeas corpus should be DENIED. "Cameron Todd Willingham case: Expert says fire for which father was executed was not arson; Texas panel reviewing execution of father for setting deadly blaze," by Steve Mills. Kills Three Children Willingham, who did not testify in his own defense, disputed the comments. 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. The mood back at the firehouse, after the Willingham fire, was different than most after-action gatherings. Willingham, now 36, insisted in a recent interview on death row he wasn't responsible for his daughters' deaths. Height: 5 ft 9 in In 2019, K&G Sports launched the Women's All-Pro Tour (WAPT) to provide a pathway for women, professional golfers, to the LPGA's Epson Tour. (August 25, 2009) He has been convicted of numerous felonies and misdemeanors, both as an adult and as a juvenile, and attempts at various forms of rehabilitation have proven unsuccessful. Killed in the house fire at 1213 West 11th Street in Corsicana were Amber Louis Kuyendall, 2, and twins Karmon Diane Willingham, 1, and Kameron Marie Willingham, 1. One of appellant's neighbors testified that the morning following the house *355 fire, Christmas Eve, appellant and his wife were at the burned house going through the debris while playing music and laughing. The prosecution claims that Mr. Willingham started the fire in order to conceal evidence that his children had been recently abused. 2229 (1998) (Cert. (February 17, 2004) English Menu. Summary: Convited in the deaths of his three young children in a house fire. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Paul Cates of The Innocence Project says that while proponents of the death penalty claim no innocent man has been executed, Willingham may be the most clear-cut case. The fire occurred on Dec. 23, 1991, just before Christmas. He saw smoke, jumped out of bed and told her to get out of the house, he said. At the punishment phase of trial, testimony was presented that Willingham has a history of violence. Inside, Willingham's 3 young children -- 2-year-old Amber, and 1-year-old twins, Karmon Diane and Kameron Marie -- were dying. Victim(s)(Race/Sex/Age at Murder) Willingham's wife initially supported him and testified on his behalf at his 1992 trial. The mood back at the firehouse, after the Willingham fire, was different than most after-action gatherings. Willingham previously acknowledged he was a lousy husband but insisted he wasn't responsible for the blaze in Corsicana that killed his daughters -- 2-year-old Amber and 1-year-old twins Karmon and Kameron. "I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit," Willingham said at his execution. Defendant appealed, and the Court of Criminal Appeals, White, J., held that: (1) jury could find that defendant would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute continuing threat to society; (2) trial court properly denied defendant's motion for change of venue; (3) trial court properly refused to admit evidence offered by defense to impeach testimony of witness for state; and (4) trial court properly refused to charge jury on effect of parole in punishment phase. All they're going to do is kill an innocent man for something he didn't do. "At 11:51 a.m., Dec. 23, 1991. Cameron Willingham, TX - Feb. 17, 6 PM CST Cameron Todd Willingham was executed on 17th February 2004 after he was convicted of murdering his three young children in their family home in Corsicana, Texas. You can contact the owner of the tree to get more information. The deefendant told authorities that the fire started while he and his children were asleep. In more than 100 of the 167 cases he testified in, he predicted the defendant would kill gain. He then attempted to maneuver his hand, strapped at the wrist, into an obscene gesture. Willingham said that he hoped she would "rot in Hell," and attempted to make an obscene gesture with his hand, which was strapped to the gurney. (Not Reported) (Habeas). The courts refused the defenses request for a change in venue after the district attorney stated on television that the children were interfering with [Mr. Willingtons] beer drinking and dart throwing. Kuykendall wrote her statement in part to refute an article that appeared in the New Yorker which referenced a 2004 story that said Kuykendall had disagreed with an affidavit written by her brother, which said that Willingham had confessed to her two weeks before his execution. His claims of heroic effort to save the girls were not borne out by his unscathed escape with little smoke in his lungs. Circuit Court of Appeals. A fire marshal testified the placement of the accelerant was designed to impede any rescue efforts by firefighters. "Convicted killer in Texas executed by lethal injection Tuesday night." "Guys that normally joke around, take things in stride well, that day was real solemn," Palos said. Samuel Bassett, an attorney who is the chairman of the commission, said the panel will seek a response from the state fire marshal and then write its own report. My memory is in bits and pieces. Please contact Gov. denied, 501 U.S. 1259, 111 S.Ct. The application was denied on February 17, 2003. policy. He was asleep late in the morning when the 2-year-old woke him with her cry for him. Cameron Todd Willingham, 36, was executed by lethal injection on 17 February 2004 in Huntsville, Texas for the murder of his three children. 23 August 1989 - Gainesville, Cooke, Texas, USA. services and Jailhouse snitches are viewed with skepticism in the justice system, so much so that some jurisdictions have restrictions against their use. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Corsicana Daily Sun Defendant appealed, and the Court of Criminal Appeals, White, J., held that: (1) jury could find that defendant would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute continuing threat to society; (2) trial court properly denied defendant's motion for change of venue; (3) trial court properly refused to admit evidence offered by defense to impeach testimony of witness for state; and (4) trial court properly refused to charge jury on effect of parole in punishment phase. The PGA Minority Collegiate Championship is the most culturally significant championship in collegiate golf. At the punishment phase of trial, testimony was presented that Willingham has a history of violence. Funeral industry and Genealogy directory. Willingham, 23, the children's father, and the only adult home at the time of the fire, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death on . You can even leave virtual flowers on the memorials you visit to complete the online cemetery experience. In his third point of error, appellant maintains the trial court erred in its charge to the jury during the punishment phase of the trial by failing to instruct the jury on the effect of parole, as parole would qualify as a "mitigating circumstance" under the facts of this case. Willingham, 36, said, "From God's dust I came and to dust I will return so the Earth shall become my throne. Other testimony showed that Willingham deliberately set the fire to kill his children. He was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m. A fire fighter also testified that Willingham was upset that his dart board was burned. At the same time Texas is the leader in executions, and has been responsible for over one-third of the men and women executed since 1976. Judge McGregor denied Reaves' request, set the execution date for Feb. 17, and ordered Willingham returned to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to await the carrying out of his sentence. Neighbors said they saw Cameron Willingham outdoors even before the blaze engulfed the place, according to testimony at Willingham's trial. He saw smoke, jumped out of bed, and ordered Amber out of the house. The witness further testified that this igniting of the floors and thresholds is typically employed to impede firemen in their rescue attempts. In 1988, a report compiled by an assistant district attorney in Dallas concluded that after the study of 11 specific death penalty verdicts where the defendants' terms had been reduced not a single one had been other than a model prisoner. Search above to list available cemeteries. Testimony at his trial indicated that Willingham had a history of violence and family abuse, including an incident where he beat his pregnant wife with a telephone to try to force a miscarriage. Willingham suggested a lantern lamp dumped fluid when a shelf collapsed inside the house and caught fire or that his oldest daughter, who was "fascinated with everything," accidentally set off the blaze. That document was dated Nov. 3 of this year. Willingham, a native of Ardmore, Okla., said his wife went out shopping and left him with the children. Among Beyler's key findings: that investigators failed to examine all of the electrical outlets and appliances in the Willinghams' house in the small Texas town of Corsicana, did not consider other potential causes for the fire, came to conclusions that contradicted witnesses at the scene, and wrongly concluded Willingham's injuries could not have been caused as he said they were. Willingham v. Texas, 118 S.Ct. "Man put to death for fire; He curses ex-wife, says he did not kill their children in blaze." However, studies have shown that when given the choice juries are more likely to impose the sentence of life without parole. 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. Appellant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction; therefore, the facts of the offense will be discussed only in reference to the error alleged in point of error number four. Defendant was convicted of capital murder by murdering more than one person during same criminal transaction after jury trial in the 13th Judicial District Court, Navarro County, Kenneth A. Douglas, J. (Not Reported) (Habeas). Willingham previously acknowledged he was a lousy husband but insisted he wasn't responsible for the blaze in Corsicana that killed his daughters -- 2-year-old Amber and 1-year-old twins Karmon and Kameron. 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. Cameron Todd Willingham (Direct Appeal) "I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do." "Execution preceded by tirade; Man directs obscenity-laced language at his former wife." According to autopsy reports, Amber and twins Karmon and Kameron died of acute carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of smoke inhalation. Willingham previously acknowledged he was a lousy husband but insisted he wasn't responsible for the blaze in Corsicana that killed his daughters -- 2-year-old Amber and 1-year-old twins Karmon and Kameron. Indian Springs - River. Appellant's neighbors testified that when the fire "blew out" the windows, appellant "hollered about his car" and ran to move it away from the fire to avoid its being damaged. You can even leave 'virtual flowers' on the memorials you visit to complete the online cemetery experience. Kitsy Kuykendall. At the punishment phase of trial, testimony was presented that Willingham has a history of violence. Willingham was convicted of burglary three months before the fire, and was serving a sentence of 6 years' probation. "Execution preceded by tirade; Man directs obscenity-laced language at his former wife." Affirmed. He took my kids away from me." Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. He has been convicted of numerous felonies and misdemeanors, both as an adult and as a juvenile, and attempts at various forms of rehabilitation have proven unsuccessful. 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. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. According to a psychologist for testifying for the state, Willingham fits the profile of a sociopath whose conduct becomes more violent over time, and who lacks a conscience. Three barbequed pork ribs, two orders of onion rings, fried okra, three beef enchiladas with cheese and two slices of lemon creme pie. An investigation, however, revealed that it was intentionally setwith a flammable liquid. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Failed to remove flower. 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. I gotta go, road dog." You can become a member, create a memorial, submit data, add flowers, add photos and search our database at no charge. The only other evidence of significance against Willingham was another inmate who testified that Willingham had confessed to him. She declined to speak to reporters. Corsicana fire marshall James Palos was the fire department's chief investigator at the Dec. 23, 1991 fire scene. People Projects Discussions Surnames . Sterling was granted a stay of execution in November 2001. TDCJ#: 999041 "The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit," Cameron Willingham said. View the profiles of people named Amber Kuykendall. Other testimony showed that Willingham deliberately set the fire to kill his 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. The fire that Willingham was convicted of setting occurred two days before Christmas in 1993 in Coricana. The fire occurred on Dec. 23, 1991, just before Christmas. Willingham v. Johnson, (N.D.Tex. The objections regarding whether Petitioner's appellate counsel was ineffective when he did not appeal the trial court's disqualification of the venirewomen, the limitations placed on Petitioner's voir dire questions, and the admission of hearsay testimony appear, at first blush, to have possible merit; however, a more detailed analysis reveals that they also lack merit. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do. 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. The testimony at trial demonstrates that Willingham neither showed remorse for his actions nor grieved the loss of his three children. He expressed his opinion that an individual demonstrating this type of behavior can not be rehabilitated in any manner, and that such a person certainly poses a continuing threat to society. 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. Appellant brings four points of error for this Court to review. Mr. Willingham was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m., seven minutes after the lethal dose began flowing through his veins. He protested his innocence to the end. He expressed love to someone named Gabby and then addressed his ex-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, who was watching about eight feet away through a window. ", Evidence at his trial showed an accelerant, believed to be charcoal lighter fluid, was used to ignite the floors, a front threshold to the house and on a concrete porch. 7th murderer executed in Texas in 2004