Rick Perry and the Board of Pardons and Paroles a report by Gerald Hurst, a fire expert, suggesting that the conviction was based on deeply flawed forensic methods. The New York-based nonprofit has pushed policy reforms aimed at exonerating people it believes were wrongfully convicted of crimes, and recently helped secure the freedom of another Texas convict who had spent 30 years behind bars for robbery before DNA evidence exonerated him. "What they are interested in is finding the poster boy for the abolition of the death penalty," Bradley said. Baird has twice sat on courts considering Willingham's appeal and once won an award from the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. However, an examination of the childrens remains was carried out, and there was no distinguishable physical evidence to suggest they had been abused. Craig Beyler has written that the finding of arson at the heart of Cameron Todd Willingham's murder conviction "could not be sustained," either by modern science or by the standards of the day. Dr. Stacy Kuykendall, AUD, is an Audiologist specialist in Beaumont, Texas. Find contacts: direct phone number, email address, work experience. The case is irrevocably closed. Join Facebook to connect with Stacy Kuykendall and others you may know. Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story: This article was originally published by the, Articles cannot be rewritten, edited or changed beyond alignments with house style books. 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. Video image from KVUE-TV Stacy Kuykendall, at right, tells reporters in Austin Wednesday that ex-husband Cameron Willingham confessed to setting the 1991 fire that killed the couple's three. And they chose poorly, because Willingham is a guilty monster.". Please notify us by email that the article will be republished at, Travis County DA Garza to Defend Daniel Perry Conviction at Parole Board, Diane Wilson on Fighting Plastic Pollution, Losing Everything, and Gaining Her Soul, Ag Commissioner Sid Miller Doubles Down on Transphobic Dress Code. Call Stacy Kuykendall on phone number (409) 727-4327 for more information and advice or to book an appointment. . On file we have 27 email addresses and 24 phone numbers associated with Stacy in area codes such as 903, 214, 573, 361, 972, and 3 other area codes. Fire Chief here in Corsicana and in the room with us is Manuel Vasquez, state Fire Marshall'Police Department. (If you dont know the details of Willinghams case, click here.). However, there had been no prior involvement of social services, and Stacy herself was quick to defend her husband. Cookie Notice Throughout the process, Stacy Kuykendall, Willinghams former wife and the mother of the three victims, has maintained that he was guilty of the murders. The science commission is still looking into whether investigators were negligent in ruling the fire was caused by arson. Willingham's Stepmother Responds. In fact, on the same day that her brother claimed she had told him Willingham confessed in that meeting, a local media outlet ran an interview with Stacy Kuykendall where she said Willingham maintained his innocence during the meeting (even though she thought he was guilty). Site made in collaboration with CMYK. Stacys husband, Cameron Willingham, had stayed at home with their children that day and was able to make it out with only minor burns, but tragically 2-year-old Amber Louise and 1-year-old twins Kameron Marie and Karmon Diane did not survive. Dave Mann has been with the Observer since 2003. I sympathize with Kuykendall. His defence team explained that Willingham was able to get out of the fire unscathed due to being closer to an exit, therefore allowing him to escape before sustaining any serious burns. The science commission was set to hear testimony from Beyler last year. If granted, it would be the first time an official agency in Texas recognized that an innocent person had been executed. During the hearings, the court heard from fire investigators that there were three points of origin for the fire, implying that it had been ignited by a person in three separate locations. But Willingham never publicly. The movie is based on a 2009 New Yorker article of the same name which dramatizes the tragic and controversial story and makes a case against the death penalty. The veracity of Kuykendalls affidavit came into question five years ago. "Caterpillar," Liza Mandelups recent documentary, unearths the humanity in cosmetic surgery. View the profiles of professionals named "Stacy Kuykendall" on LinkedIn. The appellate court found the judge should have either stepped aside or referred the matter to the district court's presiding judge for a decision, halting proceedings until a new judge can be picked. The commission took up the case at the request of Willingham's family and the Innocence Project. Todd was guilty of the crimes he committed against our daughters and was executed in 2004 . She provided a statement to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in which she reiterated that, when she met with Willingham on death row just before his 2004 execution, he confessed to starting the 1991 fire that killed their three daughters. I never met the people who made the movie, no one ever contacted me, but Im a main character and they made me into a horrible person, she said. Cameron Todd Willingham, shown with his then-wife, Stacy Kuykendall, and their daughters, was executed in 2004. She will also appear on the very first episode of Talking Evil, a new Evil Lives Here after show on the Discovery+ network. But she never once mentioned a confession. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.. Burned material samples also turned up evidence of recently used lighter fluids. However, against the advice of his defence team, Willingham firmly upheld his innocence and rejected the offer. STACY K. WELLINGHAM: Yes. Speaking to reporters in 2010, she said: My ex-husband murdered my daughters And just before he was executed, he told me he did it.. "My ex-husband murdered my daughters . I spent years not knowing, but Todd gave me that. Photos, illustrations and other art may be available for syndication but must be confirmed. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Willinghams supposed confession to his ex-wife on death row (which, it seems, never happened, but more on that in a minute. She also said she fears people will forget her daughters were the real victims. The second affidavit is from a neighbor who gave a statement earlier this month about what he witnessed more than 18 years ago on that morning a few days before Christmas in 1991.Tony Ayala gave a statement to a Corsicana Police Detective Seth Fuller on Oct. 6, 2009. Bradley was appointed to the science commission post by Gov. She experienced unspeakable tragedy. We now know that flashover can make accidental fires appear to be arson fires. Partners must notify. On Sunday, Stacy Kuykendall the ex-wife of Cameron Todd Willingham gave her first public statement in years. But its hard to trust what shes saying now. See production, box office & company info. At the time of the fire, Kuykendall and Willingham were newlyweds. He thinks border collies are the worlds greatest dogs, and believes in the nourishing powers of pickup basketball. Promotional materials distributed by your outlet, including all social media work, must include cites for the Observer and our reporter. Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley, named by Perry as chairman of the commission during the 2009 shakeup, said that re-examining the case could amount to dangerous second-guessing. Get our latest in-depth reporting straight to your inbox. Rick Perry shook up the commission before Beyler could testify, Beyler: Investigators failed to rule out several possibilities. We have 11 records for Stacy Kuykendall ranging in age from 36 years old to 53 years old. 157 Followers, 220 Following, 126 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Stacy Kuykendall (@stacykuykendall) The Dallas Morning News reports that a twin brother of Stacy Kuykendall, who is Willingham's former wife, says Willingham reminded Stacy Kuykendall, not long before his execution, of an. If we had a recording of Willingham confessing, that would be one thing. Phone: (409) 727-4327. He was born and raised in Philadelphia. Legal experts told the Observer that the policy could open the Texas Department of Agriculture to discrimination lawsuits. 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. "Someone is going to be held accountable for Todd's death, and well they should," she told CNN on Thursday. She said, If I said it, then its true.. The supposed confession is highly problematic. Willingham was sentenced to death after being found guilty of setting the fire that took the lives of 2-year-old Amber Kuykendall and 1-year-old twins Karmon and Kameron Willingham two days before Christmas 1991 in their Corsicana home. The arson finding that led to his 1992 conviction has been disputed by numerous fire experts. Testimony from fire investigators was the primary evidence against Willingham. Show us with your support. I did ask her if she stood by her statements to the Tribune and to the Daily Sun. True crime enthusiast. Do you value our journalism? 1. 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. Attorneys for Willingham's family are seeking his exoneration. Along with attorneys from the Innocence Project, the Texas Defender Service and several law firms, they are asking the Board of Pardons and Paroles to issue a posthumous pardon, clearing Willinghams name and say that his conviction was based on flawed investigative methods. Also known as Stacy G Markcum, Stacey Markum, Stacy Gail Brown, Stacy Kuykendall, Markcum Stacey. 2021 The Texas Observer. That is the closest to justice my daughters will ever get.". The prosecution went to extreme lengths to build a stronger case against Cameron Willingham. We should learn what we can about how and why Willingham was convicted on such bad evidence and then look for innocent people still in jail on bogus arson convictions. Kathy Kuykendall (born November 23, 1956) is a former American tennis player. "Todd murdered Amber, Karmon and Kameron." She will also appear on the very first episode of Talking Evil, a new Evil Lives Here after show on the Discovery+ network. All rights reserved. In total, all twenty indicators of arson identified by previous investigators were eventually refuted by Hurst. and our I wont let my daughters be forgotten, 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. Is that correct? But a few days before that meeting, Perry removed three members of the commission and appointed Bradley, a conservative ally, as its chairman. Moreover, Stacy gave an interview to the Corsicana Daily Sun that was reported on February 8, 2004the very day that Ronnie Kuykendall claimed Stacy had told him that Willingham had confessed. By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Just to be clear: Willinghams ex-wife the person he supposedly confessed to said in her last known interview that the confession never happened. But the investigators' conclusions have been strongly challenged by several fire experts. Focus instead on the forensics of the case. CNN's Matt Smith contributed to this report. 0.00% of Stacy Kuykendalls have university degree, while 16.67% have only high school diploma. Stacy Kuykendall Death - Dead, Obituary, Funeral, Cause Of Death, Passed Away: On February 15, 2021, InsideEko Media learned about the death of Stacy Kuykendall through social media publications made on Twitter. The governor rejected calls to reappoint the panel's then-chairman and three other members who had voted to launch the Willingham investigation, leading to complaints that he was trying to squelch the investigation. 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. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Both stories contain some factual distortions. Staunch opposers of the death penalty have drawn upon the case of Cameron Willingham to emphasise how in a modern era of forensic technology questionable evidence has been used to reach a guilty verdict and put a very possibly innocent man to death. Stacy Kuykendall is on Facebook. Released in 2019, the movie Trial by Fire is based on the events of this tragic and controversial case. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. The only man exonerated from Texas death row in an arson case, Ernest Willis, also spoke to reporters, having driven from his home in Mississippi. She attended and graduated from medical school in 2013, having over 10 years of diverse experience, especially in Audiologist. Outlets must also tag the Observer in all social media posts. What's on TV & Streaming Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Browse TV Shows by Genre TV News India TV Spotlight. They spoke at a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, October 24th, 2012. Rick Perry, who signed off on Willingham's execution. Neighbours who witnessed the blaze allegedly encouraged Cameron to return back into the building to save his children, but apparently he refused and instead sat on the lawn to watch the house burn. I can still remember the hurt, the anger he felt.. The commission also heard from John DeHaan, a California arson expert and author of a leading arson investigation textbook; Thomas Wood, a senior arson investigator for the Houston Fire Department; and Ed Salazar, the assistant state fire marshal. "Looking back at people with a lack of information can be dangerous," he said, KVUE reported. He let me know the reason.. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. She was ranked sixth in the United States in 1974, seventh in 1975, and tenth in 1976. That is the closest to justice my daughters will ever get.". Please notify us by email that the article will be republished at, Travis County DA Garza to Defend Daniel Perry Conviction at Parole Board, Diane Wilson on Fighting Plastic Pollution, Losing Everything, and Gaining Her Soul, Ag Commissioner Sid Miller Doubles Down on Transphobic Dress Code. Willingham'sex-wifetearfully reiterated her contention Wednesday that he confessed his guilt to her. Kuykendall said she felt obligated to tell her story from her point of view to prove to people she was not the character portrayed in the docudrama. Join Facebook to connect with Stacy Kuykendall and others you may know. The New Yorker may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. In December, 2004, ten months after Willinghams execution, the Chicago Tribune reporters Steve Mills and Maurice Possley tracked down Stacy and asked her if Willingham had, in fact, confessed to her. Obviously his recollections of what happened 18 years ago are suspect (peoples memories can begin to distort facts after just a few weeks, to say nothing of 18 years.). In an exclusive interview with NFL Network's Stacey Dales, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson talks about being drafted by Jim Irsay and the Colts with the No. And Wood told the commission that investigators were using the standard of practice that existed in Texas at the time of the 1991 fire, and that the standards now used were not adopted until nearly four years later. 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. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The notion of a death row confession is enticing. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. Also, opposing accounts emerged which stated that Mr Willingham was desperate to retrieve his children and had to be physically restrained by authorities from reentering the house. But in an interview with the Chicago Tribune in 2004, she said that Willingham didn't confess to. However, research conducted by the Innocence Project has shown that Stacy Kuykendall told the Chicago Tribune in 2004 that Cameron never confessed, and she repeated the same to The New Yorker in 2009. The take-home message is this: People can debate forever whether Willingham was a bad person or whether he was upset enough at the scene. The prosecution also called upon Willinghams fellow inmate, Johnny Webb, who testified that while in their shared cell Cameron had confessed to starting the fire as a means of hiding injuries inflicted upon the girls. On 8th January, 2002, Cameron Willingham was formally charged with murder. Willingham escaped the blaze with minor injuries. "I think about my girls every day and I miss them," she said. The case will resume Oct. 14. asked her if Willingham had, in fact, confessed to her. Stacy Kuykendall is telling her story in her own words on the Sunday, Feb. 14 season premier of the series Evil Lives Hereon the Investigation Discovery channel. But many other people likely were convicted on similarly flawed arson evidence. A jury in Corsicana, south of Dallas, convicted Willingham of capital murder in 1992. Facebook gives people the. Bradley ordered a sweeping review of the commission's mandate and procedures after taking office and has been sharply criticized by the Innocence Project for calling Willingham "a guilty monster" -- language that echoed Perry's. Stacy Kuykendall is telling her story in her own words on the Sunday, Feb. 14 season premier of the series Evil Lives Here on the Investigation Discovery channel. 33.33% are married and 50.00% are homeowners Kuykendall is telling her story in her own words on the Sunday, Feb. 14 season premier of the series Evil Lives Here on the Investigation Discovery channel. she said. Stacy Kuykendall is a provider established in Port Arthur, Texas and her medical specialization is Audiologist with more than 10 years of experience. Here is exactly what the reporters revealed, starting with the affidavit: The response from local prosecutors included a two-paragraph affidavit from Ronnie Kuykendall, the brother of Willinghams former wife. . I mentioned yesterday an excellent story in the Star-Telegram. View info, ratings, reviews, specialties, education history, and more. She reached the quarterfinals in the singles event of the French Open in 1976 which she lost in three sets to Florena Mihai. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories, To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. As a result, a new conclusion was drawn which noted no evidence of arson whatsoever. Heres the full except from the Tribune story: The response from local prosecutors included a two-paragraph affidavit from Ronnie Kuykendall, the brother of Willinghams former wife. (Which is what likely happened in the Willingham case.). In his statement, he said he saw Willingham packing his car and moving it out of the carport that morning, while smoke was coming out of the house.Ayala told Fuller that he tried to tell police in 1991 what he saw, but he was rebuffed. "Their methodologies did not comport with the scientific method or the process of elimination.". Beyler's report was commissioned by the Forensic Science Commission and delivered in August 2009. In that article, Stacy made it clear that she didnt believe Willinghams version of events. She believed for years he was innocent. It wasn't immediately clear when the Board of Pardons and Paroles would take up the Willingham family's application, but Board spokesman Harold Battson said typically these types of files take 3-4 months to review and will be read by entire 7-member board. Stacy is related to Debora Buckert and Gabriel John Kuykendall as well as 1 additional person. Doctor Profile. ), The Fox reporter didnt mention, say, the new understanding of flashover. Dr. Stacy Kuykendall - Port Arthur TX, Audiologist at 7980 Anchor Dr 300-B. Gov. There was also significant emphasis placed on the superficial injuries sustained by Willingham, as well as the fact that he did not suffer from smoke inhalation, suggesting he was able to avoid major injuries due to the premeditated nature of the crime. The story contains two main claims about Willinghams guilt: 1. Willingham's ex-wife Stacy Kuykendall has stopped speaking to reporters in recent years. The surviving relatives of Cameron Todd Willingham gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday after sending an application to clear his name, eight years after his execution for a 1991 fire that killed his three young children. Since her ex-husband's execution, Stacy Kuykendall has remained completely under the radar. Cameron Todd Willinghams ex-wife spoke out saying that he confessed to her before being executed. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. One of them is dead. There are 7 professionals named "Stacy Kuykendall", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Resides in Oklahoma City, OK. Related To Curtis Markcum, Shaan Markcum, Jacob Markcum. The crux of the case against Cameron Todd Willinghamwhich led him to be executed for committing arson and causing the death of his three daughterswas forensic evidence that has since been called into question by some of the nations leading fire scientists, as I explained in the magazine last month. Commissioners last month rejected Bradley's efforts to close the case and conclude that fire investigators did not commit professional misconduct. Some media outlets are blessedly turning their focus to the forensics. He was born and raised in Philadelphia. While reporting my New Yorker article, I tried to talk to Stacy, but she said that she no longer wanted to discuss the case. 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. These are the people who can still be helped. Willingham's family has also asked a judge to posthumously declare Willingham innocent based on the evidence amassed since his trial. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. On 23rd December, 1991, Stacy Kuykendall went out to do some last minute Christmas shopping. He let me know the reason.. Why he waited 18 years to make a statement is a little more murky. Willingham's ex-wife tearfully reiterated her contention Wednesday that he confessed his guilt to her.. The observations of a neighbor who was at the scene, but for some reason, hadnt spoken to police until this month. Dave Mann has been with the Observer since 2003. Kuykendall said she felt obligated to tell her story from her point of view to prove to people she was not the character portrayed in the docudrama. "Todd murdered Amber, Karmon and Kameron." I Killed Dirty John - Season 8, Episode 1 Not long after Terra Newell met her mother's new boyfriend, she sensed something was off about John Meehan. So my advice is this: ignore the whole damn episode. If you support this mission, we need your help. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. I wont let my daughters be forgotten, she said. DeHaan told the commission in a written statement that investigators in the Willingham case "relied on investigative methods and indicators that have been shown to be unreliable," but that their methods were "typical of investigations carried out at that time." Some article text below. From Left, Patricia Willingham Cox, Cameron Todd Willingham's cousin, Eugenia Willingham, his stepmother, and Judy Cavnar, his cousin, are seeking to clear Willingham's name from a 1991 arson case for which he was executed in 2004. Other family members and trial officials will also have an opportunity to provide input. In 2010, District Judge Charlie Baird held a hearing to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to hold a court of inquiry regarding a possible wrongful execution. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The provider is registered . All of the Texas Observers articles are available for free syndication for news sources under the following conditions: You can chip in for as little as 99 cents a month. Update: Heres the latest, from Steve Mills of the Chicago Tribune. In 1991, when a fire destroyed the Willingham's home in Corsicana, Texas, and took the lives of 2-year-old Amber and 1-year-old twins Karmen and Kameron, Cameron was the only one who managed to escape. High 78F. "The investigators had poor understandings of fire science and failed to acknowledge or apply the contemporaneous understanding of the limitations of fire indicators," it concluded. An American chemist and fire investigator named Gerald Hurst was able to rebut the evidence of arson brought against Willingham. By The New Yorker. The first is from Ronnie Kuykendall, brother of Stacy Kuykendall, who gave a statement to Kirby Hill regarding one of Willinghams last visits with his ex-wife. Perry, who allowed the execution to go forward, has called Willingham a "monster" and reaffirmed his belief in the dead man's guilt. Willingham's cousin, Pat Cox, called the decision "an obstacle but not a lost battle.". Kuykendall said she kept a low profile during the debate over his execution but now she is speaking out, and shes speaking loud. Willinghams defense lawyer at his trial, David Martin, has also publicly expressed his belief that Willingham was guilty. BA Criminology / MA Sociology. In their final meeting, however, he did not confess, she told the Tribune. The industrial takeover of Freeports East End, a historically Black community, is almost complete. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Stacy herself was quick to defend her husband, music taste was also called into question, research conducted by the Innocence Project. All rights reserved. Rick Perry in what many viewed as a political move to bury new evidence that cast doubt on Willingham's guilt. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. It was also later suggested that Webb had been offered a reduced prison sentence in exchange for his testimony against Cameron Willingham, although this was consistently denied by both Webb and the prosecution team. The film makes Todd out to be this innocent person. 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