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AReporteratLarge

SEPTEMBER7,2009ISSUE

TrialByFire
DidTexasexecuteaninnocentman?
BYDAVIDGRANN

CameronToddWillinghaminhiscellondeathrow,in
1994.Heinsisteduponhisinnocenceinthedeathsof
hischildrenandrefusedanoffertopleadguiltyin
returnforalifesentence.
PHOTOGRAPHBYKENLIGHT

hefiremovedquicklythroughthehouse,a
one-storywood-framestructureina
working-classneighborhoodofCorsicana,in
northeastTexas.Flamesspreadalongthewalls,
burstingthroughdoorways,blisteringpaintand
tilesandfurniture.Smokepressedagainsttheceiling,thenbankeddownward,seeping
intoeachroomandthroughcrevicesinthewindows,stainingthemorningsky.
BuffieBarbee,whowaselevenyearsoldandlivedtwohousesdown,wasplayingin
herbackyardwhenshesmelledthesmoke.Sheraninsideandtoldhermother,Diane,
andtheyhurriedupthestreet;thatswhentheysawthesmolderinghouseand
CameronToddWillinghamstandingonthefrontporch,wearingonlyapairofjeans,
hischestblackenedwithsoot,hishairandeyelidssinged.Hewasscreaming,My
babiesareburningup!HischildrenKarmonandKameron,whowereone-year-old
twingirls,andtwo-year-oldAmberweretrappedinside.
WillinghamtoldtheBarbeestocalltheFireDepartment,andwhileDianeraced
downthestreettogethelphefoundastickandbrokethechildrensbedroomwindow.
Firelashedthroughthehole.Hebrokeanotherwindow;flamesburstthroughit,too,
andheretreatedintotheyard,kneelinginfrontofthehouse.Aneighborlatertold
policethatWillinghamintermittentlycried,Mybabies!thenfellsilent,asifhehad
blockedthefireoutofhismind.
DianeBarbee,returningtothescene,couldfeelintenseheatradiatingoffthehouse.
Momentslater,thefivewindowsofthechildrensroomexplodedandflamesblew
out,asBarbeeputit.Withinminutes,thefirstfiremenhadarrived,andWillingham
approachedthem,shoutingthathischildrenwereintheirbedroom,wheretheflames
werethickest.Afiremansentwordoverhisradioforrescueteamstosteponit.

Moremenshowedup,uncoilinghosesandaimingwaterattheblaze.Onefireman,

Moremenshowedup,uncoilinghosesandaimingwaterattheblaze.Onefireman,
whohadanairtankstrappedtohisbackandamaskcoveringhisface,slipped
throughawindowbutwashitbywaterfromahoseandhadtoretreat.Hethen
chargedthroughthefrontdoor,intoaswirlofsmokeandfire.Headingdownthe
maincorridor,hereachedthekitchen,wherehesawarefrigeratorblockingtheback
door.
ToddWillingham,lookingon,appearedtogrowmorehysterical,andapolicechaplain
namedGeorgeMonaghanledhimtothebackofafiretruckandtriedtocalmhim
down.Willinghamexplainedthathiswife,Stacy,hadgoneoutearlierthatmorning,
andthathehadbeenjoltedfromsleepbyAmberscreaming,Daddy!Daddy!
Mylittlegirlwastryingtowakemeupandtellmeaboutthefire,hesaid,adding,I
couldntgetmybabiesout.
Whilehewastalking,afiremanemergedfromthehouse,cradlingAmber.Asshewas
givenC.P.R.,Willingham,whowastwenty-threeyearsoldandpowerfullybuilt,ran
toseeher,thensuddenlyheadedtowardthebabiesroom.Monaghanandanother
manrestrainedhim.Wehadtowrestlewithhimandthenhandcuffhim,forhisand
ourprotection,Monaghanlatertoldpolice.Ireceivedablackeye.Oneofthefirst
firemenatthescenetoldinvestigatorsthat,atanearlierpoint,hehadalsoheld
Willinghamback.BasedonwhatIsawonhowthefirewasburning,itwouldhave
beencrazyforanyonetotryandgointothehouse,hesaid.
Willinghamwastakentoahospital,wherehewastoldthatAmberwhohadactually
beenfoundinthemasterbedroomhaddiedofsmokeinhalation.Kameronand
Karmonhadbeenlyingonthefloorofthechildrensbedroom,theirbodiesseverely
burned.Accordingtothemedicalexaminer,they,too,diedfromsmokeinhalation.
Newsofthetragedy,whichtookplaceonDecember23,1991,spreadthrough
Corsicana.Asmallcityfifty-fivemilesnortheastofWaco,ithadoncebeenthecenter
ofTexassfirstoilboom,butmanyofthewellshadsincedriedup,andmorethana
quarterofthecitystwentythousandinhabitantshadfallenintopoverty.Severalstores
alongthemainstreetwereshuttered,givingtheplacethefeelofanabandoned
outpost.
Willinghamandhiswife,whowastwenty-twoyearsold,hadvirtuallynomoney.
Stacyworkedinherbrothersbar,calledSomeOtherPlace,andWillingham,an
unemployedautomechanic,hadbeencaringforthekids.Thecommunitytookupa
collectiontohelptheWillinghamspayforfuneralarrangements.
Fireinvestigators,meanwhile,triedtodeterminethecauseoftheblaze.(Willingham
gaveauthoritiespermissiontosearchthehouse:Iknowwemightnoteverknowall
theanswers,butIdjustliketoknowwhymybabiesweretakenfromme.)Douglas
Fogg,whowasthentheassistantfirechiefinCorsicana,conductedtheinitial
inspection.Hewastall,withacrewcut,andhisvoicewasraspyfromyearsofinhaling
smokefromfiresandcigarettes.HehadgrownupinCorsicanaand,aftergraduating

smokefromfiresandcigarettes.HehadgrownupinCorsicanaand,aftergraduating
fromhighschool,in1963,hehadjoinedtheNavy,servingasamedicinVietnam,
wherehewaswoundedonfouroccasions.HewasawardedaPurpleHearteachtime.
AfterhereturnedfromVietnam,hebecameafirefighter,andbythetimeofthe
Willinghamblazehehadbeenbattlingfireorwhathecallsthebeastformore
thantwentyyears,andhadbecomeacertifiedarsoninvestigator.Youlearnthatfire
talkstoyou,hetoldme.
Hewassoonjoinedonthecasebyoneofthestatesleadingarsonsleuths,adeputy
firemarshalnamedManuelVasquez,whohassincedied.Short,withapaunch,
Vasquezhadinvestigatedmorethantwelvehundredfires.Arsoninvestigatorshave
alwaysbeenconsideredaspecialbreedofdetective.Inthe1991movieBackdraft,a
heroicarsoninvestigatorsaysoffire,Itbreathes,iteats,andithates.Theonlywayto
beatitistothinklikeit.Toknowthatthisflamewillspreadthiswayacrossthedoor
andupacrosstheceiling.Vasquez,whohadpreviouslyworkedinArmyintelligence,
hadseveralmaximsofhisown.OnewasFiredoesnotdestroyevidenceitcreates
it.AnotherwasThefiretellsthestory.Iamjusttheinterpreter.Hecultivateda
SherlockHolmes-likeauraofinvincibility.Once,hewasaskedunderoathwhetherhe
hadeverbeenmistakeninacase.IfIhave,sir,Idontknow,heresponded.Itsnever
beenpointedout.
VasquezandFoggvisitedtheWillinghamshousefourdaysaftertheblaze.Following
protocol,theymovedfromtheleastburnedareastowardthemostdamagedones.Itis
asystematicmethod,Vasquezlatertestified,adding,Imjustcollectinginformation..
..Ihavenotmadeanydetermination.Idonthaveanypreconceivedidea.

Themenslowlytouredtheperimeterofthehouse,takingnotesandphotographs,like
archeologistsmappingoutaruin.Uponopeningthebackdoor,Vasquezobservedthat
therewasjustenoughspacetosqueezepasttherefrigeratorblockingtheexit.Theair
smelledofburnedrubberandmeltedwires;adampashcoveredtheground,sticking
totheirboots.Inthekitchen,VasquezandFoggdiscernedonlysmokeandheat
damageasignthatthefirehadnotoriginatedthereandsotheypusheddeeper
intothenine-hundred-and-seventy-five-square-footbuilding.Acentralcorridorled
pastautilityroomandthemasterbedroom,thenpastasmalllivingroom,ontheleft,
andthechildrensbedroom,ontheright,endingatthefrontdoor,whichopenedonto

andthechildrensbedroom,ontheright,endingatthefrontdoor,whichopenedonto
theporch.Vasqueztriedtotakeineverything,aprocessthathecomparedtoentering
onesmother-in-lawshouseforthefirsttime:Ihavethesamecuriosity.
Intheutilityroom,henoticedonthewallpicturesofskullsandwhathelater
describedasanimageoftheGrimReaper.Thenheturnedintothemasterbedroom,
whereAmbersbodyhadbeenfound.Mostofthedamagetherewasalsofromsmoke
andheat,suggestingthatthefirehadstartedfartherdownthehallway,andheheaded
thatway,steppingoverdebrisandduckingunderinsulationandwiringthathung
downfromtheexposedceiling.
AsheandFoggremovedsomeoftheclutter,theynoticeddeepcharringalongthe
baseofthewalls.Becausegasesbecomebuoyantwhenheated,flamesordinarilyburn
upward.ButVasquezandFoggobservedthatthefirehadburnedextremelylowdown,
andthattherewerepeculiarcharpatternsonthefloor,shapedlikepuddles.
Vasquezsmooddarkened.Hefollowedtheburntrailerthepathetchedbythefire
whichledfromthehallwayintothechildrensbedroom.Sunlightfilteringthrough
thebrokenwindowsilluminatedmoreoftheirregularlyshapedcharpatterns.A
flammableorcombustibleliquiddousedonafloorwillcauseafiretoconcentratein
thesekindsofpockets,whichiswhyinvestigatorsrefertothemaspourpatternsor
puddleconfigurations.
Thefirehadburnedthroughlayersofcarpetingandtileandplywoodflooring.
Moreover,themetalspringsunderthechildrensbedshadturnedwhiteasignthat
intenseheathadradiatedbeneaththem.Seeingthatthefloorhadsomeofthedeepest
burns,Vasquezdeducedthatithadbeenhotterthantheceiling,which,giventhatheat
rises,was,inhiswords,notnormal.
Foggexaminedapieceofglassfromoneofthebrokenwindows.Itcontaineda
spiderweb-likepatternwhatfireinvestigatorscallcrazedglass.Forensictextbooks
hadlongdescribedtheeffectasakeyindicatorthatafirehadburnedfastandhot,
meaningthatithadbeenfuelledbyaliquidaccelerant,causingtheglasstofracture.
Themenlookedagainatwhatappearedtobeadistinctburntrailerthroughthe
house:itwentfromthechildrensbedroomintothecorridor,thenturnedsharplyto
therightandproceededoutthefrontdoor.Totheinvestigatorssurprise,eventhe
woodunderthedoorsaluminumthresholdwascharred.Ontheconcretefloorofthe
porch,justoutsidethefrontdoor,VasquezandFoggnoticedanotherunusualthing:
brownstains,which,theyreported,wereconsistentwiththepresenceofanaccelerant.
ThemenscannedthewallsforsootmarksthatresembledaV.Whenanobject
catchesonfire,itcreatessuchapattern,asheatandsmokeradiateoutward;the
bottomoftheVcanthereforepointtowhereafirebegan.IntheWillinghamhouse,
therewasadistinctVinthemaincorridor.Examiningitandotherburnpatterns,
Vasquezidentifiedthreeplaceswherefirehadoriginated:inthehallway,inthe

Vasquezidentifiedthreeplaceswherefirehadoriginated:inthehallway,inthe
childrensbedroom,andatthefrontdoor.Vasquezlatertestifiedthatmultipleorigins
pointedtooneconclusion:thefirewasintentionallysetbyhumanhands.
Bynow,bothinvestigatorshadaclearvisionofwhathadhappened.Someonehad
pouredliquidaccelerantthroughoutthechildrensroom,evenundertheirbeds,then
pouredsomemorealongtheadjoininghallwayandoutthefrontdoor,creatingafire
barrierthatpreventedanyonefromescaping;similarly,aprosecutorlatersuggested,
therefrigeratorinthekitchenhadbeenmovedtoblocktheback-doorexit.Thehouse,
inshort,hadbeendeliberatelytransformedintoadeathtrap.
Theinvestigatorscollectedsamplesofburnedmaterialsfromthehouseandsentthem
toalaboratorythatcoulddetectthepresenceofaliquidaccelerant.Thelabschemist
reportedthatoneofthesamplescontainedevidenceofmineralspirits,asubstance
thatisoftenfoundincharcoal-lighterfluid.Thesamplehadbeentakenbythe
thresholdofthefrontdoor.
Thefirewasnowconsideredatriplehomicide,andToddWillinghamtheonly
person,besidesthevictims,knowntohavebeeninthehouseatthetimeoftheblaze
becametheprimesuspect.

oliceandfireinvestigatorscanvassedtheneighborhood,interviewingwitnesses.
Several,likeFatherMonaghan,initiallyportrayedWillinghamasdevastatedby
thefire.Yet,overtime,anincreasingnumberofwitnessesoffereddamningstatements.
DianeBarbeesaidthatshehadnotseenWillinghamtrytoenterthehouseuntilafter
theauthoritiesarrived,asifhewereputtingonashow.Andwhenthechildrensroom
explodedwithflames,sheadded,heseemedmorepreoccupiedwithhiscar,whichhe
moveddownthedriveway.AnotherneighborreportedthatwhenWillinghamcried
outforhisbabieshedidnotappeartobeexcitedorconcerned.EvenFather
Monaghanwroteinastatementthat,uponfurtherreflection,thingswerenotasthey
seemed.Ihadthefeelingthat[Willingham]wasincompletecontrol.
ThepolicebegantopiecetogetheradisturbingprofileofWillingham.Bornin
Ardmore,Oklahoma,in1968,hehadbeenabandonedbyhismotherwhenhewasa
baby.Hisfather,Gene,whohaddivorcedhismother,eventuallyraisedhimwithhis
stepmother,Eugenia.Gene,aformerU.S.marine,workedinasalvageyard,andthe
familylivedinacrampedhouse;atnight,theycouldhearfreighttrainsrattlingpast
onanearbytrack.Willingham,whohadwhatthefamilycalledtheclassic
Willinghamlookahandsomeface,thickblackhair,anddarkeyesstruggledin
school,andasateen-agerbegantosniffpaint.Whenhewasseventeen,Oklahomas
DepartmentofHumanServicesevaluatedhim,andreported,Helikesgirls,music,
fastcars,sharptrucks,swimming,andhunting,inthatorder.Willinghamdropped
outofhighschool,andovertimewasarrestedfor,amongotherthings,drivingunder
theinfluence,stealingabicycle,andshoplifting.

In1988,hemetStacy,aseniorinhighschool,whoalsocamefromatroubled

In1988,hemetStacy,aseniorinhighschool,whoalsocamefromatroubled
background:whenshewasfouryearsold,herstepfatherhadstrangledhermotherto
deathduringafight.StacyandWillinghamhadaturbulentrelationship.Willingham,
whowasunfaithful,dranktoomuchJackDaniels,andsometimeshitStacyeven
whenshewaspregnant.AneighborsaidthatheonceheardWillinghamyellather,
Getup,bitch,andIllhityouagain.
ItsallbecomesoDisneyfied.

OnDecember31st,theauthoritiesbroughtWillinghaminforquestioning.Foggand
Vasquezwerepresentfortheinterrogation,alongwithJimmieHensley,apoliceofficer
whowasworkinghisfirstarsoncase.WillinghamsaidthatStacyhadleftthehouse
around9A.M.topickupaChristmaspresentforthekids,attheSalvationArmy.
Aftershegotoutofthedriveway,Iheardthetwinscry,soIgotupandgavethema
bottle,hesaid.Thechildrensroomhadasafetygateacrossthedoorway,which
Ambercouldclimboverbutnotthetwins,andheandStacyoftenletthetwinsnap
ontheflooraftertheydranktheirbottles.Amberwasstillinbed,Willinghamsaid,so
hewentbackintohisroomtosleep.ThenextthingIrememberishearingDaddy,
Daddy,herecalled.Thehousewasalreadyfullofsmoke.Hesaidthathegotup,
feltaroundthefloorforapairofpants,andputthemon.Hecouldnolongerhearhis
daughtersvoice(IheardthatlastDaddy,Daddyandneverheardheragain),andhe
hollered,OhGodAmber,getoutofthehouse!Getoutofthehouse!
HeneversensedthatAmberwasinhisroom,hesaid.Perhapsshehadalreadypassed
outbythetimehestoodup,orperhapsshecameinafterheleft,throughasecond
doorway,fromthelivingroom.Hesaidthathewentdownthecorridorandtriedto
reachthechildrensbedroom.Inthehallway,hesaid,youcouldntseenothingbut
black.Theairsmelledthewayithadwhentheirmicrowavehadblownup,three
weeksearlierlikewireandstufflikethat.Hecouldhearsocketsandlightswitches
popping,andhecroucheddown,almostcrawling.Whenhemadeittothechildrens
bedroom,hesaid,hestoodandhishaircaughtonfire.OhGod,Ineverfeltanything
thathotbefore,hesaidoftheheatradiatingoutoftheroom.
Afterhepattedoutthefireonhishair,hesaid,hegotdownonthegroundand
gropedinthedark.IthoughtIfoundoneofthemonce,hesaid,butitwasadoll.
Hecouldntbeartheheatanylonger.Ifeltmyselfpassingout,hesaid.Finally,he

stumbleddownthecorridorandoutthefrontdoor,tryingtocatchhisbreath.Hesaw

stumbleddownthecorridorandoutthefrontdoor,tryingtocatchhisbreath.Hesaw
DianeBarbeeandyelledforhertocalltheFireDepartment.Aftersheleft,he
insisted,hetriedwithoutsuccesstogetbackinside.
Theinvestigatorsaskedhimifhehadanyideahowthefirehadstarted.Hesaidthat
hewasntsure,thoughitmusthaveoriginatedinthechildrensroom,sincethatwas
wherehefirstsawflames;theywereglowinglikebrightlights.HeandStacyused
threespaceheaterstokeepthehousewarm,andoneofthemwasinthechildrens
room.ItaughtAmbernottoplaywithit,hesaid,addingthatshegotwhuppings
everyonceinawhileformessingwithit.Hesaidthathedidntknowiftheheater,
whichhadaninternalflame,wasturnedon.(Vasquezlatertestifiedthatwhenhehad
checkedtheheater,fourdaysafterthefire,itwasintheOff position.)Willingham
speculatedthatthefiremighthavebeenstartedbysomethingelectrical:hehadheard
allthatpoppingandcrackling.
Whenpressedwhethersomeonemighthaveamotivetohurthisfamily,hesaidthat
hecouldntthinkofanyonethatcold-blooded.Hesaidofhischildren,Ijustdont
understandwhyanybodywouldtakethem,youknow?Wehadthreeofthemost
prettybabiesanybodycouldhaveeveraskedfor.Hewenton,MeandStacysbeen
togetherforfouryears,butoffandonwegetintoafightandsplitupforawhileandI
thinkthosebabiesiswhatbroughtussoclosetogether...neitheroneofus...could
livewithoutthemkids.ThinkingofAmber,hesaid,Totellyouthehonest-to-Gods
truth,Iwishshehadntwokemeup.
Duringtheinterrogation,VasquezletFoggtakethelead.Finally,Vasquezturnedto
Willinghamandaskedaseeminglyrandomquestion:hadheputonshoesbeforehe
fledthehouse?
No,sir,Willinghamreplied.
Amapofthehousewasonatablebetweenthemen,andVasquezpointedtoit.You
walkedoutthisway?hesaid.
Willinghamsaidyes.
VasquezwasnowconvincedthatWillinghamhadkilledhischildren.Ifthefloorhad
beensoakedwithaliquidaccelerantandthefirehadburnedlow,astheevidence
suggested,Willinghamcouldnothaverunoutofthehousethewayhehaddescribed
withoutbadlyburninghisfeet.Amedicalreportindicatedthathisfeethadbeen
unscathed.
Willinghaminsistedthat,whenheleftthehouse,thefirewasstillaroundthetopof
thewallsandnotonthefloor.Ididnthavetojumpthroughanyflames,hesaid.
Vasquezbelievedthatthiswasimpossible,andthatWillinghamhadlitthefireashe
wasretreatingfirst,torchingthechildrensroom,thenthehallway,andthen,from
theporch,thefrontdoor.VasquezlatersaidofWillingham,Hetoldmeastoryof
purefabrication....Hejusttalkedandhetalkedandallhedidwaslie.

purefabrication....Hejusttalkedandhetalkedandallhedidwaslie.
Still,therewasnoclearmotive.Thechildrenhadlife-insurancepolicies,butthey
amountedtoonlyfifteenthousanddollars,andStacysgrandfather,whohadpaidfor
them,waslistedastheprimarybeneficiary.Stacytoldinvestigatorsthateventhough
WillinghamhitherhehadneverabusedthechildrenOurkidswerespoiled
rotten,shesaidandshedidnotbelievethatWillinghamcouldhavekilledthem.
Ultimately,theauthoritiesconcludedthatWillinghamwasamanwithouta
consciencewhoseserialcrimeshadclimaxed,almostinexorably,inmurder.John
Jackson,whowasthentheassistantdistrictattorneyinCorsicana,wasassignedto
prosecuteWillinghamscase.HelatertoldtheDallasMorningNewsthathe
consideredWillinghamtobeanutterlysociopathicindividualwhodeemedhis
childrenanimpedimenttohislifestyle.Or,asthelocaldistrictattorney,Pat
Batchelor,putit,Thechildrenwereinterferingwithhisbeerdrinkinganddart
throwing.
OnthenightofJanuary8,1992,twoweeksafterthefire,Willinghamwasridingina
carwithStacywhenSWATteamssurroundedthem,forcingthemtothesideofthe
road.Theypulledgunsoutlikewehadjustrobbedtenbanks,Stacylaterrecalled.
Allweheardwasclick,click....Thentheyarrestedhim.
Willinghamwaschargedwithmurder.Becausethereweremultiplevictims,hewas
eligibleforthedeathpenalty,underTexaslaw.Unlikemanyotherprosecutorsinthe
state,Jackson,whohadambitionsofbecomingajudge,waspersonallyopposedto
capitalpunishment.Idontthinkitseffectiveindeterringcriminals,hetoldme.I
justdontthinkitworks.Healsoconsidereditwasteful:becauseoftheexpenseof
litigationandtheappealsprocess,itcosts,onaverage,$2.3milliontoexecutea
prisonerinTexasaboutthreetimesthecostofincarceratingsomeoneforfortyyears.
Plus,Jacksonsaid,Whatstherecourseifyoumakeamistake?Yethisboss,
Batchelor,believedthat,asheonceputit,certainpeoplewhocommitbadenough
crimesgiveuptherighttolive,andJacksoncametoagreethattheheinousnatureof
thecrimeintheWillinghamcaseoneoftheworstintermsofbodycountthathe
hadevertriedmandateddeath.
Willinghamcouldntaffordtohirelawyers,andwasassignedtwobythestate:David
Martin,aformerstatetrooper,andRobertDunn,alocaldefenseattorneywho
representedeveryonefromallegedmurdererstospousesindivorcecasesaJack-ofall-trades,ashecallshimself.(Inasmalltown,youcantsayImaso-and-solawyer,
becauseyoullstarvetodeath,hetoldme.)
TheWillinghamfamilyinthedaysbeforeChristmas,1991.

NotlongafterWillinghamsarrest,authoritiesreceivedamessagefromaprison
inmatenamedJohnnyWebb,whowasinthesamejailasWillingham.Webballeged
thatWillinghamhadconfessedtohimthathetooksomekindoflighterfluid,
squirting[it]aroundthewallsandthefloor,and

squirting[it]aroundthewallsandthefloor,and
setafire.ThecaseagainstWillinghamwas
consideredairtight.
Evenso,severalofStacysrelativeswho,unlike
her,believedthatWillinghamwasguiltytold
Jacksonthattheypreferredtoavoidtheanguishof
atrial.Andso,shortlybeforejuryselection,
JacksonapproachedWillinghamsattorneyswith
anextraordinaryoffer:iftheirclientpleadedguilty,
thestatewouldgivehimalifesentence.Iwas
reallyhappywhenIthoughtwemighthaveadeal
toavoidthedeathpenalty,Jacksonrecalls.
Willinghamslawyerswereequallypleased.Theyhadlittledoubtthathehad
committedthemurdersandthat,ifthecasewentbeforeajury,hewouldbefound
guilty,and,subsequently,executed.Everyonethinksdefenselawyersmustbelieve
theirclientsareinnocent,butthatsseldomtrue,Martintoldme.Mostofthetime,
theyreguiltyassin.HeaddedofWillingham,Alltheevidenceshowedthathewas
onehundredpercentguilty.Hepouredaccelerantalloverthehouseandputlighter
fluidunderthekidsbeds.Itwas,hesaid,aclassicarsoncase:therewerepuddle
patternsallovertheplacenodisputingthose.
MartinandDunnadvisedWillinghamthatheshouldaccepttheoffer,butherefused.
Thelawyersaskedhisfatherandstepmothertospeaktohim.AccordingtoEugenia,
Martinshowedthemphotographsoftheburnedchildrenandsaid,Lookwhatyour
sondid.Yougottotalkhimintopleading,orhesgoingtobeexecuted.
Hisparentswenttoseetheirsoninjail.Thoughhisfatherdidnotbelievethathe
shouldpleadguiltyifhewereinnocent,hisstepmotherbeseechedhimtotakethe
deal.Ijustwantedtokeepmyboyalive,shetoldme.
Willinghamwasimplacable.IaintgonnapleadtosomethingIdidntdo,especially
killingmyownkids,hesaid.Itwashisfinaldecision.Martinsays,Ithoughtitwas
nutsatthetimeandIthinkitsnutsnow.
Willinghamsrefusaltoacceptthedealconfirmedtheviewoftheprosecution,and
eventhatofhisdefenselawyers,thathewasanunrepentantkiller.
InAugust,1992,thetrialcommencedintheoldstonecourthouseindowntown
Corsicana.Jacksonandateamofprosecutorssummonedaprocessionofwitnesses,
includingJohnnyWebbandtheBarbees.Thecruxofthestatescase,though,
remainedthescientificevidencegatheredbyVasquezandFogg.Onthestand,
Vasquezdetailedwhathecalledmorethantwentyindicatorsofarson.
Doyouhaveanopinionastowhostartedthefire?oneoftheprosecutorsasked.
Yes,sir,Vasquezsaid.Mr.Willingham.

Yes,sir,Vasquezsaid.Mr.Willingham.
TheprosecutoraskedVasquezwhathethoughtWillinghamsintentwasinlighting
thefire.Tokillthelittlegirls,hesaid.
ThedefensehadtriedtofindafireexperttocounterVasquezandFoggstestimony,
buttheonetheycontactedconcurredwiththeprosecution.Ultimately,thedefense
presentedonlyonewitnesstothejury:theWillinghamsbabysitter,whosaidshe
couldnotbelievethatWillinghamcouldhavekilledhischildren.(Dunntoldmethat
Willinghamhadwantedtotestify,butMartinandDunnthoughtthathewouldmake
abadwitness.)Thetrialendedaftertwodays.
Duringhisclosingarguments,Jacksonsaidthatthepuddleconfigurationsandpour
patternswereWillinghamsinadvertentconfession,burnedintothefloor.Showinga
Biblethathadbeensalvagedfromthefire,JacksonparaphrasedthewordsofJesus
fromtheGospelofMatthew:Whomsoevershallharmoneofmychildren,itsbetter
foramillstonetobehungaroundhisneckandforhimtobecastinthesea.
Thejurywasoutforbarelyanhourbeforereturningwithaunanimousguiltyverdict.
AsVasquezputit,Thefiredoesnotlie.

II

henElizabethGilbertapproachedtheprisonguard,onaspringdayin1999,
andsaidCameronToddWillinghamsname,shewasuncertainaboutwhat
shewasdoing.Aforty-seven-year-oldFrenchteacherandplaywrightfromHouston,
Gilbertwasdivorcedwithtwochildren.Shehadnevervisitedaprisonbefore.Several
weeksearlier,afriend,whoworkedatanorganizationthatopposedthedeathpenalty,
hadencouragedhertovolunteerasapenpalforaninmateondeathrow,andGilbert
hadofferedhernameandaddress.Notlongafter,ashortletter,writtenwithunsteady
penmanship,arrivedfromWillingham.Ifyouwishtowriteback,Iwouldbehonored
tocorrespondwithyou,hesaid.Healsoaskedifshemightvisithim.Perhapsoutofa
writerscuriosity,orperhapsbecauseshedidntfeelquiteherself(shehadjustbeen
upsetbynewsthatherex-husbandwasdyingofcancer),sheagreed.Nowshewas
standinginfrontofthedecrepitpenitentiaryinHuntsville,Texasaplacethat
inmatesreferredtoasthedeathpit.
Shefiledpastarazor-wirefence,aseriesoffloodlights,andacheckpoint,whereshe
waspatteddown,untilsheenteredasmallchamber.Onlyafewfeetinfrontofher
wasamanconvictedofmultipleinfanticide.Hewaswearingawhitejumpsuitwith
DRfordeathrowprintedontheback,inlargeblackletters.Hehadatattooofa
serpentandaskullonhisleftbiceps.Hestoodnearlysixfeettallandwasmuscular,
thoughhislegshadatrophiedafteryearsofconfinement.

APlexiglaswindowseparatedWillinghamfromher;still,Gilbert,whohadshort

APlexiglaswindowseparatedWillinghamfromher;still,Gilbert,whohadshort
brownhairandabookishmanner,staredathimuneasily.Willinghamhadoncefought
anotherprisonerwhocalledhimababykiller,andsincehehadbeenincarcerated,
sevenyearsearlier,hehadcommittedaseriesofdisciplinaryinfractionsthathad
periodicallylandedhiminthesegregationunit,whichwasknownasthedungeon.
Willinghamgreetedherpolitely.Heseemedgratefulthatshehadcome.Afterhis
conviction,Stacyhadcampaignedforhisrelease.ShewrotetoAnnRichards,thenthe
governorofTexas,saying,Iknowhiminwaysthatnooneelsedoeswhenitcomesto
ourchildren.Therefore,Ibelievethatthereisnowayhecouldhavepossibly
committedthiscrime.ButwithinayearStacyhadfiledfordivorce,andWillingham
hadfewvisitorsexceptforhisparents,whodrovefromOklahomatoseehimoncea
month.IreallyhavenooneoutsidemyparentstoremindmethatIamahuman
being,nottheanimalthestateprofessesIam,hetoldGilbertatonepoint.
Hedidntwanttotalkaboutdeathrow.Hell,Ilivehere,helaterwroteher.WhenI
haveavisit,Iwanttoescapefromhere.Heaskedherquestionsaboutherteaching
andart.Heexpressedfearthat,asaplaywright,shemightfindhimaonedimensionalcharacter,andapologizedforlackingsocialgraces;henowhadtrouble
separatingthemoresinprisonfromthoseoftheoutsideworld.
TheaftermathofthefireonDecember23,1991.

PHOTOGRAPHFROMTEXASSTATEFIREMARSHALSOFFICE

WhenGilbertaskedhimifhewantedsomething
toeatordrinkfromthevendingmachines,he
declined.IhopeIdidnotoffendyoubynot
acceptinganysnacks,helaterwroteher.IdidntwantyoutofeelIwastherejustfor
somethinglikethat.
Shehadbeenwarnedthatprisonersoftentriedtoconvisitors.Heappearedtorealize
this,subsequentlytellingher,Iamjustasimpleman.Nothingelse.Andtomost
otherpeopleaconvictedkillerlookingforsomeonetomanipulate.
Theirvisitlastedfortwohours,andafterwardtheycontinuedtocorrespond.Shewas
struckbyhisletters,whichseemedintrospective,andwerenotatallwhatshehad
expected.Iamaveryhonestpersonwithmyfeelings,hewroteher.Iwillnot
bullshityouonhowIfeelorwhatIthink.Hesaidthatheusedtobestoic,likehis
father.But,headded,losingmythreedaughters...myhome,wifeandmylife,you
tendtowakeupalittle.Ihavelearnedtoopenmyself.
Sheagreedtovisithimagain,andwhenshereturned,severalweekslater,hewas
visiblymoved.HereIamthispersonwhonobodyontheoutsideisevergoingto
knowasahuman,whohaslostsomuch,butstilltryingtoholdon,hewroteher
afterward.Butyoucameback!Idontthinkyouwilleverknowofwhatimportance
thatvisitwasinmyexistence.

thatvisitwasinmyexistence.
Theykeptexchangingletters,andshebeganaskinghimaboutthefire.Heinsisted
thathewasinnocentandthat,ifsomeonehadpouredaccelerantthroughthehouse
andlitit,thenthekillerremainedfree.Gilbertwasntnavesheassumedthathewas
guilty.Shedidnotmindgivinghimsolace,butshewasnottheretoabsolvehim.
Still,shehadbecomecuriousaboutthecase,andonedaythatfallshedrovedownto
thecourthouseinCorsicanatoreviewthetrialrecords.Manypeopleinthe
communityrememberedthetragedy,andaclerkexpressedbewildermentthatanyone
wouldbeinterestedinamanwhohadburnedhischildrenalive.
Gilberttookthefilesandsatdownatasmalltable.Assheexaminedtheeyewitness
accounts,shenoticedseveralcontradictions.DianeBarbeehadreportedthat,before
theauthoritiesarrivedatthefire,Willinghamnevertriedtogetbackintothehouse
yetshehadbeenabsentforsometimewhilecallingtheFireDepartment.Meanwhile,
herdaughterBuffiehadreportedwitnessingWillinghamontheporchbreakinga
window,inanapparentefforttoreachhischildren.Andthefiremenandpoliceonthe
scenehaddescribedWillinghamfranticallytryingtogetintothehouse.
Thewitnessestestimonyalsogrewmoredamningafterauthoritieshadconcluded,in
thebeginningofJanuary,1992,thatWillinghamwaslikelyguiltyofmurder.InDiane
Barbeesinitialstatementtoauthorities,shehadportrayedWillinghamashysterical,
anddescribedthefrontofthehouseexploding.ButonJanuary4th,afterarson
investigatorsbegansuspectingWillinghamofmurder,Barbeesuggestedthathecould
havegonebackinsidetorescuehischildren,forattheoutsetshehadseenonly
smokecomingfromoutofthefrontofthehousesmokethatwasnotrealthick.
AnevenstarkershiftoccurredwithFatherMonaghanstestimony.Inhisfirst
statement,hehaddepictedWillinghamasadevastatedfatherwhohadtobe
repeatedlyrestrainedfromriskinghislife.Yet,asinvestigatorswerepreparingtoarrest
Willingham,heconcludedthatWillinghamhadbeentooemotional(Heseemedto
havethetypeofdistressthatawomanwhohadgivenbirthwouldhaveuponseeing
herchildrendie);andheexpressedagutfeelingthatWillinghamhadsomethingto
dowiththesettingofthefire.
Dozensofstudieshaveshownthatwitnessesmemoriesofeventsoftenchangewhen
theyaresuppliedwithnewcontextualinformation.ItielDror,acognitivepsychologist
whohasdoneextensiveresearchoneyewitnessandexperttestimonyincriminal
investigations,toldme,Themindisnotapassivemachine.Onceyoubelievein
somethingonceyouexpectsomethingitchangesthewayyouperceiveinformation
andthewayyourmemoryrecallsit.
AfterGilbertsvisittothecourthouse,shekeptwonderingaboutWillinghamsmotive,
andshepressedhimonthematter.Inresponse,hewrote,ofthedeathofhischildren,
Idonottalkaboutitmuchanymoreanditisstillaverypowerfullyemotionalpain
insidemybeing.Headmittedthathehadbeenasorry-asshusbandwhohadhit
Stacysomethinghedeeplyregretted.Buthesaidthathehadlovedhischildrenand

Stacysomethinghedeeplyregretted.Buthesaidthathehadlovedhischildrenand
wouldneverhavehurtthem.Fatherhood,hesaid,hadchangedhim;hestoppedbeing
ahoodlumandsettleddownandbecameaman.Nearlythreemonthsbeforethe
fire,heandStacy,whohadnevermarried,wedatasmallceremonyinhishometown
ofArdmore.Hesaidthattheprosecutionhadseizeduponincidentsfromhispastand
fromthedayofthefiretocreateaportraitofademon,asJackson,theprosecutor,
referredtohim.Forinstance,Willinghamsaid,hehadmovedthecarduringthefire
simplybecausehedidntwantittoexplodebythehouse,furtherthreateningthe
children.
Gilbertwasunsurewhattomakeofhisstory,andshebegantoapproachpeoplewho
wereinvolvedinthecase,askingthemquestions.MyfriendsthoughtIwascrazy,
Gilbertrecalls.Idneverdoneanythinglikethisinmylife.
Onemorning,whenWillinghamsparentscametovisithim,Gilbertarrangedtosee
themfirst,atacoffeeshopneartheprison.Gene,whowasinhisseventies,hadthe
Willinghamlook,thoughhisblackhairhadgraystreaksandhisdarkeyeswere
magnifiedbyglasses.Eugenia,whowasinherfifties,withsilveryhair,wasassweet
andtalkativeasherhusbandwassternandreserved.ThedrivefromOklahomato
Texastooksixhours,andtheyhadwokenatthreeinthemorning;becausetheycould
notaffordamotel,theywouldhavetoreturnhomelaterthatday.Ifeellikeareal
burdentothem,WillinghamhadwrittenGilbert.
AsGeneandEugeniasippedcoffee,theytoldGilberthowgratefultheywerethat
someonehadfinallytakenaninterestinToddscase.Genesaidthathisson,thoughhe
hadflaws,wasnokiller.
Theeveningbeforethefire,Eugeniasaid,shehadspokenonthephonewithTodd.
SheandGenewereplanningonvisitingtwodayslater,onChristmasEve,andTodd
toldherthatheandStacyandthekidshadjustpickedupfamilyphotographs.He
said,WegotyourpicturesforChristmas,sherecalled.HeputAmberonthephone,
andshewastattlingononeofthetwins.Todddidntseemupset.Ifsomethingwas
botheringhim,Iwouldhaveknown.
TheaftermathofthefireonDecember23,1991.

PHOTOGRAPHFROMTEXASSTATEFIREMARSHALSOFFICE

GeneandEugeniagotuptogo:theydidntwant
tomissanyofthefourhoursthatwereallottedfor
thevisitwiththeirson.Beforetheyleft,Genesaid,
Youllletusknowifyoufindanything,wontyou?
Overthenextfewweeks,Gilbertcontinuedtotrackdownsources.Manyofthem,
includingtheBarbees,remainedconvincedthatWillinghamwasguilty,butseveralof
hisfriendsandrelativeshaddoubts.Sodidsomepeopleinlawenforcement.
WillinghamsformerprobationofficerinOklahoma,PollyGoodin,recentlytoldme
thatWillinghamhadneverdemonstratedbizarreorsociopathicbehavior.Hewas

WillinghamsformerprobationofficerinOklahoma,PollyGoodin,recentlytoldme
thatWillinghamhadneverdemonstratedbizarreorsociopathicbehavior.Hewas
probablyoneofmyfavoritekids,shesaid.EvenaformerjudgenamedBebeBridges
whohadoftenstood,assheputit,ontheoppositesideofWillinghaminthelegal
system,andwhohadsenthimtojailforstealingtoldmethatshecouldnotimagine
himkillinghischildren.Hewaspolite,andheseemedtocare,shesaid.His
convictionshadbeenfordumb-kidstuff.Eventhethingsstolenwerentsignificant.
Severalmonthsbeforethefire,WillinghamtrackedGoodindownatheroffice,and
proudlyshowedherphotographsofStacyandthekids.HewantedBebeandmeto
knowhedbeendoinggood,Goodinrecalled.
Eventually,GilbertreturnedtoCorsicanatointerviewStacy,whohadagreedtomeet
atthebed-and-breakfastwhereGilbertwasstaying.Stacywasslightlyplump,with
pale,roundcheeksandfeathereddark-blondhair;herbangswereheldinplacebygel,
andherfacewasheavilymadeup.Accordingtoataperecordingoftheconversation,
Stacysaidthatnothingunusualhadhappenedinthedaysbeforethefire.Sheand
Willinghamhadnotfought,andwerepreparingfortheholiday.ThoughVasquez,the
arsonexpert,hadrecalledfindingthespaceheateroff,Stacywassurethat,atleaston
thedayoftheincidentacoolwintermorningithadbeenon.Irememberturning
itdown,sherecalled.Ialwaysthought,Gosh,couldAmberhaveputsomethingin
there?Stacyaddedthat,morethanonce,shehadcaughtAmberputtingthingstoo
closetoit.
Willinghamhadoftennottreatedherwell,sherecalled,andafterhisincarcerationshe
hadlefthimforamanwhodid.Butshedidntthinkthatherformerhusbandshould
beondeathrow.Idontthinkhedidit,shesaid,crying.
Thoughonlythebabysitterhadappearedasawitnessforthedefenseduringthemain
trial,severalfamilymembers,includingStacy,testifiedduringthepenaltyphase,
askingthejurytospareWillinghamslife.WhenStacywasonthestand,Jackson
grilledheraboutthesignificanceofWillinghamsverylargetattooofaskull,
encircledbysomekindofaserpent.
Itsjustatattoo,Stacyresponded.
Hejustlikesskullsandsnakes.Isthatwhatyouresaying?
No.Hejusthadhegotatattooonhim.
TheprosecutioncitedsuchevidenceinassertingthatWillinghamfittheprofileofa
sociopath,andbroughtforthtwomedicalexpertstoconfirmthetheory.Neitherhad
metWillingham.OneofthemwasTimGregory,apsychologistwithamasters
degreeinmarriageandfamilyissues,whohadpreviouslygonegoosehuntingwith
Jackson,andhadnotpublishedanyresearchinthefieldofsociopathicbehavior.His
practicewasdevotedtofamilycounselling.
Atonepoint,JacksonshowedGregoryExhibitNo.60aphotographofanIron
MaidenposterthathadhunginWillinghamshouseandaskedthepsychologistto
interpretit.Thisoneisapictureofaskull,withafistbeingpunchedthroughthe

MaidenposterthathadhunginWillinghamshouseandaskedthepsychologistto
interpretit.Thisoneisapictureofaskull,withafistbeingpunchedthroughthe
skull,Gregorysaid;theimagedisplayedviolenceanddeath.Gregorylookedat
photographsofothermusicpostersownedbyWillingham.Theresahoodedskull,
withwingsandahatchet,Gregorycontinued.Andalloftheseareinfire,depicting
itremindsmeofsomethinglikeHell.AndtheresapictureaLedZeppelin
pictureofafallingangel....Iseetheresanassociationmanytimeswithcultive-type
ofactivities.Afocusondeath,dying.Manytimesindividualsthathavealotofthis
typeofarthaveinterestinsatanic-typeactivities.
TheothermedicalexpertwasJamesP.Grigson,aforensicpsychiatrist.Hetestifiedso
oftenfortheprosecutionincapital-punishmentcasesthathehadbecomeknownas
Dr.Death.(ATexasappellatejudgeoncewrotethatwhenGrigsonappearedonthe
standthedefendantmightaswellcommencewritingouthislastwilland
testament.)GrigsonsuggestedthatWillinghamwasanextremelyseveresociopath,
andthatnopillortreatmentcouldhelphim.Grigsonhadpreviouslyusednearlythe
samewordsinhelpingtosecureadeathsentenceagainstRandallDaleAdams,who
hadbeenconvictedofmurderingapoliceofficer,in1977.AfterAdams,whohadno
priorcriminalrecord,spentadozenyearsondeathrowandoncecamewithin
seventy-twohoursofbeingexecutednewevidenceemergedthatabsolvedhim,and
hewasreleased.In1995,threeyearsafterWillinghamstrial,Grigsonwasexpelled
fromtheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationforviolatingethics.Theassociationstated
thatGrigsonhadrepeatedlyarrivedatapsychiatricdiagnosiswithoutfirsthaving
examinedtheindividualsinquestion,andforindicating,whiletestifyingincourtasan
expertwitness,thathecouldpredictwith100-per-centcertaintythattheindividuals
wouldengageinfutureviolentacts.

fterspeakingtoStacy,Gilberthadonemorepersonshewantedtointerview:
thejailhouseinformantJohnnyWebb,whowasincarceratedinIowaPark,
Texas.ShewrotetoWebb,whosaidthatshecouldseehim,andtheymetinthe
prisonvisitingroom.Amaninhislatetwenties,hehadpallidskinandaclosely
shavedhead;hiseyeswerejumpy,andhisentirebodyseemedtotremble.Areporter
whooncemethimdescribedhimtomeasnervousasacataroundrockingchairs.
Webbhadbeguntakingdrugswhenhewasnineyearsold,andhadbeenconvictedof,
amongotherthings,cartheft,sellingmarijuana,forgery,androbbery.
AsGilbertchattedwithhim,shethoughtthatheseemedparanoid.During
Willinghamstrial,Webbdisclosedthathehadbeengivenadiagnosisofposttraumaticstressdisorderafterhewassexuallyassaultedinprison,in1988,andthathe
oftensufferedfrommentalimpairment.Undercross-examination,Webbtestified
thathehadnorecollectionofarobberythathehadpleadedguiltytoonlymonths
earlier.
JohnnyWebbclaimedthatWillinghamconfessedtohiminprison.
PHOTOGRAPHBYALEXGARCIA/CHICAGOTRIBUNE

Webbrepeatedforherwhathehadsaidincourt:

Webbrepeatedforherwhathehadsaidincourt:
hehadpassedbyWillinghamscell,andasthey
spokethroughafoodslotWillinghambrokedown
andtoldhimthatheintentionallysetthehouseon
fire.Gilbertwasdubious.Itwashardtobelieve
thatWillingham,whohadotherwiseinsistedon
hisinnocence,hadsuddenlyconfessedtoaninmate
hebarelyknew.Theconversationhadpurportedly
takenplacebyaspeakersystemthatallowedanyof
theguardstolistenanunlikelyspotforan
inmatetorevealasecret.Whatsmore,Webb
allegedthatWillinghamhadtoldhimthatStacy
hadhurtoneofthekids,andthatthefirewasset
tocoverupthecrime.Theautopsies,however,had
revealednobruisesorsignsoftraumaonthe
childrensbodies.
Jailhouseinformants,manyofwhomareseekingreducedtimeorspecialprivileges,are
notoriouslyunreliable.Accordingtoa2004studybytheCenteronWrongful
Convictions,atNorthwesternUniversityLawSchool,lyingpoliceandjailhouse
informantsaretheleadingcauseofwrongfulconvictionsincapitalcasesintheUnited
States.AtthetimethatWebbcameforwardagainstWillingham,hewasfacing
chargesofrobberyandforgery.DuringWillinghamstrial,anotherinmateplannedto
testifythathehadoverheardWebbsayingtoanotherprisonerthathewashopingto
gettimecut,butthetestimonywasruledinadmissible,becauseitwashearsay.Webb,
whopleadedguiltytotherobberyandforgerycharges,receivedasentenceoffifteen
years.Jackson,theprosecutor,toldmethathegenerallyconsideredWebban
unreliablekindofguy,butadded,Isawnorealmotiveforhimtomakeastatement
likethisifitwasnttrue.Wedidntcuthimanyslack.In1997,fiveyearsafter
Willinghamstrial,JacksonurgedtheTexasBoardofPardonsandParolestogrant
Webbparole.Iaskedthemtocuthimlooseearly,Jacksontoldme.Thereason,
Jacksonsaid,wasthatWebbhadbeentargetedbytheAryanBrotherhood.Theboard
grantedWebbparole,butwithinmonthsofhisreleasehewascaughtwithcocaineand
returnedtoprison.
InMarch,2000,severalmonthsafterGilbertsvisit,WebbunexpectedlysentJacksona
MotiontoRecantTestimony,declaring,Mr.Willinghamisinnocentofallcharges.
ButWillinghamslawyerwasnotinformedofthisdevelopment,andsoonafterward
Webb,withoutexplanation,recantedhisrecantation.WhenIrecentlyaskedWebb,
whowasreleasedfromprisontwoyearsago,abouttheturnaboutandwhy
Willinghamwouldhaveconfessedtoavirtualstranger,hesaidthatheknewonly
whatthedudetoldme.AfterIpressedhim,hesaid,ItsverypossibleI
misunderstoodwhathesaid.Sincethetrial,Webbhasbeengivenanadditional
diagnosis,bipolardisorder.Beinglockedupinthatlittlecellmakesyoukindof

crazy,hesaid.Mymemoryisinbitsandpieces.Iwasonalotofmedicationatthe

crazy,hesaid.Mymemoryisinbitsandpieces.Iwasonalotofmedicationatthe
time.Everyoneknewthat.Hepaused,thensaid,Thestatuteoflimitationshasrun
outonperjury,hasntit?
Asidefromthescientificevidenceofarson,thecaseagainstWillinghamdidnotstand
uptoscrutiny.Jackson,theprosecutor,saidofWebbstestimony,Youcantakeitor
leaveit.Eventherefrigeratorsplacementbythebackdoorofthehouseturnedoutto
beinnocuous;thereweretworefrigeratorsinthecrampedkitchen,andoneofthem
wasbythebackdoor.JimmieHensley,thepolicedetective,andDouglasFogg,the
assistantfirechief,bothofwhominvestigatedthefire,toldmerecentlythattheyhad
neverbelievedthatthefridgewaspartofthearsonplot.Itdidnthavenothingtodo
withthefire,Foggsaid.
Aftermonthsofinvestigatingthecase,Gilbertfoundthatherfaithintheprosecution
wasshaken.Asshetoldme,WhatifToddreallywasinnocent?

III

nthesummerof1660,anEnglishmannamedWilliamHarrisonvanishedona
walk,nearthevillageofCharingworth,inGloucestershire.Hisbloodstainedhat
wassoondiscoveredonthesideofalocalroad.PoliceinterrogatedHarrisonsservant,
JohnPerry,andeventuallyPerrygaveastatementthathismotherandhisbrotherhad
killedHarrisonformoney.Perry,hismother,andhisbrotherwerehanged.
Twoyearslater,Harrisonreappeared.Heinsisted,fancifully,thathehadbeen
abductedbyabandofcriminalsandsoldintoslavery.Whateverhappened,onething
wasindisputable:hehadnotbeenmurderedbythePerrys.
Thefearthataninnocentpersonmightbeexecutedhaslonghauntedjurorsand
lawyersandjudges.DuringAmericasColonialperiod,dozensofcrimeswere
punishablebydeath,includinghorsethievery,blasphemy,man-stealing,andhighway
robbery.Afterindependence,thenumberofcrimeseligibleforthedeathpenaltywas
graduallyreduced,butdoubtspersistedoverwhetherlegalproceduresweresufficient
topreventaninnocentpersonfrombeingexecuted.In1868,JohnStuartMillmade
oneofthemosteloquentdefensesofcapitalpunishment,arguingthatexecutinga
murdererdidnotdisplayawantondisregardforlifebut,rather,proofofitsvalue.We
show,onthecontrary,mostemphaticallyourregardforitbytheadoptionofarule
thathewhoviolatesthatrightinanotherforfeitsitforhimself,hesaid.ForMill,
therewasonecounterargumentthatcarriedweightthatifbyanerrorofjusticean
innocentpersonisputtodeath,themistakecanneverbecorrected.
Themodernlegalsystem,withitslengthyappealsprocessandclemencyboards,was
widelyassumedtoprotectthekindoferrorofjusticethatMillfeared.In2000,while
GeorgeW.BushwasgovernorofTexas,hesaid,Iknowtherearesomeinthecountry
whodontcareforthedeathpenalty,but...weveadequatelyansweredinnocenceor

whodontcareforthedeathpenalty,but...weveadequatelyansweredinnocenceor
guilt.Histoppolicyadviseronissuesofcriminaljusticeemphasizedthatthereis
superdueprocesstomakesurethatnoinnocentdefendantsareexecuted.
Inrecentyears,though,questionshavemountedoverwhetherthesystemisfail-safe.
Since1976,morethanahundredandthirtypeopleondeathrowhavebeen
exonerated.DNAtesting,whichwasdevelopedintheeighties,savedseventeenof
them,butthetechniquecanbeusedonlyinrareinstances.BarryScheck,aco-founder
oftheInnocenceProject,whichhasusedDNAtestingtoexonerateprisoners,
estimatesthatabouteightypercentoffeloniesdonotinvolvebiologicalevidence.
In2000,afterthirteenpeopleondeathrowinIllinoiswereexonerated,GeorgeRyan,
whowasthengovernorofthestate,suspendedthedeathpenalty.Thoughhehadbeen
alongtimeadvocateofcapitalpunishment,hedeclaredthathecouldnolonger
supportasystemthathascomesoclosetotheultimatenightmarethestatestaking
ofinnocentlife.FormerSupremeCourtJusticeSandraDayOConnorhassaidthat
theexecutionofalegallyandfactuallyinnocentpersonwouldbeaconstitutionally
intolerableevent.
I,too,wantcompanionship,intimacy,andsomeoneto
growoldwith,butnot24/7.

SuchacasehasbecomeakindofgrislyHolyGrailamongopponentsofcapital
punishment.Inhis2002bookTheDeathPenalty,StuartBannerobserves,The
prospectofkillinganinnocentpersonseemedtobetheonethingthatcouldcause
peopletorethinktheirsupportforcapitalpunishment.Somewhowerenottroubled
bystatisticalargumentsagainstthedeathpenaltyclaimsaboutdeterrenceorracial
disparitiesweredeeplytroubledthatsuchanextremeinjusticemightoccurinan
individualcase.Opponentsofthedeathpenaltyhavepointedtoseveralquestionable
cases.In1993,RubenCantuwasexecutedinTexasforfatallyshootingamanduringa
robbery.Yearslater,asecondvictim,whosurvivedtheshooting,toldtheHouston
ChroniclethathehadbeenpressuredbypolicetoidentifyCantuasthegunman,even
thoughhebelievedCantutobeinnocent.SamMillsap,thedistrictattorneyinthe
case,whohadoncesupportedcapitalpunishment(Imnowild-eyed,pointy-headed
liberal),saidthathewasdisturbedbythethoughtthathehadmadeamistake.

In1995,LarryGriffinwasputtodeathinMissouri,foradrive-byshootingofadrug

In1995,LarryGriffinwasputtodeathinMissouri,foradrive-byshootingofadrug
dealer.Thecaserestedlargelyontheeyewitnesstestimonyofacareercriminalnamed
RobertFitzgerald,whohadbeenaninformantforprosecutorsbeforeandwasinthe
witness-protectionprogram.Fitzgeraldmaintainedthathehappenedtobeatthe
scenebecausehiscarhadbrokendown.AfterGriffinsexecution,aprobesponsoredby
theN.A.A.C.P.sLegalDefenseandEducationalFundrevealedthatamanwhohad
beenwoundedduringtheincidentinsistedthatGriffinwasnottheshooter.Moreover,
thefirstpoliceofficeratthescenedisputedthatFitzgeraldhadwitnessedthecrime.
Thesecases,however,stoppedshortofofferingirrefutableproofthatalegallyand
factuallyinnocentpersonwasexecuted.In2005,aSt.Louisprosecutor,JenniferJoyce,
launchedaninvestigationoftheGriffincase,uponbeingpresentedwithwhatshe
calledcompellingevidenceofGriffinspotentialinnocence.Aftertwoyearsof
reviewingtheevidence,andinterviewinganeweyewitness,Joycesaidthatsheandher
teamwereconvincedthattherightpersonwasconvicted.
SupremeCourtJusticeAntoninScalia,in2006,votedwithamajoritytoupholdthe
deathpenaltyinaKansascase.Inhisopinion,Scaliadeclaredthat,inthemodern
judicialsystem,therehasnotbeenasinglecasenotoneinwhichitisclearthata
personwasexecutedforacrimehedidnotcommit.Ifsuchaneventhadoccurredin
recentyears,wewouldnothavetohuntforit;theinnocentsnamewouldbeshouted
fromtherooftops.

yproblemsaresimple,WillinghamwroteGilbertinSeptember,1999.
Trytokeepthemfromkillingmeatallcosts.Endofstory.

Duringhisfirstyearsondeathrow,Willinghamhadpleadedwithhislawyer,David
Martin,torescuehim.Youcantimaginewhatitsliketobehere,withpeopleIhave
nobusinessevenbeingaround,hewrote.
Forawhile,WillinghamsharedacellwithRickyLeeGreen,aserialkiller,who
castratedandfatallystabbedhisvictims,includingasixteen-year-oldboy.(Greenwas
executedin1997.)AnotherofWillinghamscellmates,whohadanI.Q.belowseventy
andtheemotionaldevelopmentofaneight-year-old,wasrapedbyaninmate.You
remembermetellingyouIhadanewcelly?Willinghamwroteinalettertohis
parents.Thelittleretardedboy....Therewasthisguyhereonthewingwhoisashit
sorrycoward(whoisthesameoneIgotintoitwithalittleoveramonthago).Well,
heraped[mycellmate]inthe3rowshowerweekbeforelast.Willinghamsaidthat
hecouldntbelievethatsomeonewouldrapeaboywhocannotevendefendhimself.
Prettydamnlow.
BecauseWillinghamwasknownasababykiller,hewasatargetofattacks.Prisonis
aroughplace,andwithacaselikeminetheynevergiveyouthebenefitofadoubt,he
wrotehisparents.Afterhetriedtofightoneprisonerwhothreatenedhim,
Willinghamtoldafriendthatifhehadntstoodupforhimselfseveralinmateswould
havebeatenmeuporrapedorhisthoughttrailedoff.
Overtheyears,Willinghamslettershomebecameincreasinglydespairing.Thisisa

Overtheyears,Willinghamslettershomebecameincreasinglydespairing.Thisisa
hardplace,anditmakesapersonhardinside,hewrote.Itoldmyselfthatwasone
thingIdidnotwantandthatwasforthisplacetomakemebitter,butitishard.He
wenton,Theyhave[executed]atleastonepersoneverymonthIhavebeenhere.Itis
senselessandbrutal....Yousee,wearenotlivinginhere,weareonlyexisting.In
1996,hewrote,Ijustbeentryingtofigureoutwhyafterhavingawifeand3beautiful
childrenthatIlovedmylifehastoendlikethis.Andsometimesitjustseemslikeitis
notworthitall....Inthe31/2yearsIbeenhereIhaveneverfeltthatmylifewasas
worthlessanddesolateasitisnow.Sincethefire,hewrote,hehadthesensethathis
lifewasslowlybeingerased.Heobsessivelylookedatphotographsofhischildrenand
Stacy,whichhestoredinhiscell.Solongago,sofaraway,hewroteinapoem.Was
everythingtrulythere?
Inmatesondeathrowarehousedinaprisonwithinaprison,wherethereareno
attemptsatrehabilitation,andnoeducationalortrainingprograms.In1999,after
sevenprisonerstriedtoescapefromHuntsville,Willinghamandfourhundredand
fifty-nineotherinmatesondeathrowweremovedtoamoresecurefacility,in
Livingston,Texas.Willinghamwasheldinisolationinasixty-square-footcell,
twenty-threehoursaday.Hetriedtodistracthimselfbydrawingamateurstuff,as
heputitandwritingpoems.Inapoemabouthischildren,hewrote,Thereis
nothingmorebeautifulthanyouonthisearth.WhenGilbertoncesuggestedsome
possiblerevisionstohispoems,heexplainedthathewrotethemsimplyasexpressions,
howevercrude,ofhisfeelings.Sotometocutthemupandtrytoimproveonthem
justforcreative-writingpurposeswouldbetodestroywhatIwasdoingtostartwith,
hesaid.
Despitehiseffortstooccupyhisthoughts,hewroteinhisdiarythathismind
deteriorateseachpassingday.Hestoppedworkingoutandgainedweight.He
questionedhisfaith:NoGodwhocaredabouthiscreationwouldabandonthe
innocent.Heseemednottocareifanotherinmateattackedhim.Apersonwhois
alreadydeadinsidedoesnotfeardeath,hewrote.
Onebyone,thepeopleheknewinprisonwereescortedintotheexecutionchamber.
TherewasCliftonRussell,Jr.,who,attheageofeighteen,stabbedandbeatamanto
death,andwhosaid,inhislaststatement,IthankmyFather,GodinHeaven,forthe
gracehehasgrantedmeIamready.TherewasJefferyDeanMotley,who
kidnappedandfatallyshotawoman,andwhodeclared,inhisfinalwords,Iloveyou,
Mom.Goodbye.AndtherewasJohnFearance,whomurderedhisneighbor,andwho
turnedtoGodinhislastmomentsandsaid,IhopeHewillforgivemeforwhatI
done.

Willinghamhadgrownclosetosomeofhisprisonmates,eventhoughheknewthat
theywereguiltyofbrutalcrimes.InMarch,2000,WillinghamsfriendPonchai
Wilkersonatwenty-eight-year-oldwhohadshotandkilledaclerkduringajewelry
heistwasexecuted.Afterward,Willinghamwroteinhisdiarythathefeltan
emptinessthathasnotbeentouchedsincemychildrenweretakenfromme.Ayear
later,anotherfriendwhowasabouttobeexecutedoneofthefewrealpeopleIhave
metherenotcaughtupinthebravadoofprisonaskedWillinghamtomakehima
finaldrawing.Man,IneverthoughtdrawingasimpleRosecouldbesoemotionally
hard,Willinghamwrote.ThehardpartisknowingthatthiswillbethelastthingI
candoforhim.
Anotherinmate,ErnestRayWillis,hadacasethatwasfreakishlysimilarto
Willinghams.In1987,Willishadbeenconvictedofsettingafire,inWestTexas,that
killedtwowomen.Willistoldinvestigatorsthathehadbeensleepingonafriends
living-roomcouchandwokeuptoahousefullofsmoke.Hesaidthathetriedto
rouseoneofthewomen,whowassleepinginanotherroom,buttheflamesandsmoke
drovehimback,andheranoutthefrontdoorbeforethehouseexplodedwithflames.
WitnessesmaintainedthatWillishadactedsuspiciously;hemovedhiscaroutofthe
yard,anddidntshowanyemotion,asonevolunteerfirefighterputit.Authorities
alsowonderedhowWilliscouldhaveescapedthehousewithoutburninghisbarefeet.
Fireinvestigatorsfoundpourpatterns,puddleconfigurations,andothersignsofarson.
Theauthoritiescoulddiscernnomotiveforthecrime,butconcludedthatWillis,who
hadnopreviousrecordofviolence,wasasociopathademon,astheprosecutorput
it.Williswaschargedwithcapitalmurderandsentencedtodeath.
WillishadeventuallyobtainedwhatWillinghamcalled,enviously,abad-asslawyer.
JamesBlank,anotedpatentattorneyinNewYork,wasassignedWillisscaseaspart
ofhisfirmspro-bonowork.ConvincedthatWilliswasinnocent,Blankdevotedmore
thanadozenyearstothecase,andhisfirmspentmillions,onfireconsultants,private
investigators,forensicexperts,andthelike.Willingham,meanwhile,reliedonDavid
Martin,hiscourt-appointedlawyer,andoneofMartinscolleaguestohandlehis
appeals.Willinghamoftentoldhisparents,Youdontknowwhatitsliketohave
lawyerswhowontevenbelieveyoureinnocent.Likemanyinmatesondeathrow,
Willinghameventuallyfiledaclaimofinadequatelegalrepresentation.(WhenI

recentlyaskedMartinabouthisrepresentationofWillingham,hesaid,Therewere

recentlyaskedMartinabouthisrepresentationofWillingham,hesaid,Therewere
nogroundsforreversal,andtheverdictwasabsolutelytherightone.Hesaidofthe
case,Shit,itsincrediblethatanyoneseventhinkingaboutit.)
Willinghamtriedtostudythelawhimself,readingbookssuchasTactinCourt,or
HowLawyersWin:ContainingSketchesofCasesWonbySkill,Wit,Art,Tact,
CourageandEloquence.Still,heconfessedtoafriend,Thelawissocomplicatedit
ishardformetounderstand.In1996,heobtainedanewcourt-appointedlawyer,
WalterReaves,whotoldmethathewasappalledbythequalityofWillinghams
defenseattrialandonappeal.Reavespreparedforhimastatewritofhabeascorpus,
knownasaGreatWrit.Inthebyzantineappealsprocessofdeath-penaltycases,which
frequentlytakesmorethantenyears,thewritisthemostcriticalstage:aprisonercan
introducenewevidencedetailingsuchthingsasperjuredtestimony,unreliablemedical
experts,andbogusscientificfindings.Yetmostindigentinmates,likeWillingham,
whoconstitutethebulkofthoseondeathrow,lacktheresourcestotrackdownnew
witnessesordigupfreshevidence.Theymustdependoncourt-appointedlawyers,
manyofwhomareunqualified,irresponsible,oroverburdened,asastudybythe
TexasDefenderService,anonprofitorganization,putit.In2000,aDallasMorning
Newsinvestigationrevealedthatroughlyaquarteroftheinmatescondemnedtodeath
inTexaswererepresentedbycourt-appointedattorneyswhohad,atsomepointin
theircareers,beenreprimanded,placedonprobation,suspendedorbannedfrom
practicinglawbytheStateBar.AlthoughReaveswasmorecompetent,hehadfew
resourcestoreinvestigatethecase,andhiswritintroducednonewexculpatory
evidence:nothingfurtheraboutWebb,orthereliabilityoftheeyewitnesstestimony,or
thecredibilityofthemedicalexperts.Itfocussedprimarilyonproceduralquestions,
suchaswhetherthetrialcourterredinitsinstructionstothejury.
TheTexasCourtofCriminalAppealswasknownforupholdingconvictionseven
whenoverwhelmingexculpatoryevidencecametolight.In1997,DNAtestingproved
thatspermcollectedfromarapevictimdidnotmatchRoyCriner,whohadbeen
sentencedtoninety-nineyearsforthecrime.Twolowercourtsrecommendedthatthe
verdictbeoverturned,buttheCourtofCriminalAppealsupheldit,arguingthat
Crinermighthavewornacondomormightnothaveejaculated.SharonKeller,whois
nowthepresidingjudgeonthecourt,statedinamajorityopinion,Thenewevidence
doesnotestablishinnocence.In2000,GeorgeW.BushpardonedCriner.(Kellerwas
recentlychargedwithjudicialmisconduct,forrefusingtokeepopenpastfiveoclocka
clerksofficeinordertoallowalast-minutepetitionfromamanwhowasexecuted
laterthatnight.)
OnOctober31,1997,theCourtofCriminalAppealsdeniedWillinghamswrit.After
Willinghamfiledanotherwritofhabeascorpus,thistimeinfederalcourt,hewas
grantedatemporarystay.Inapoem,Willinghamwrote,Onemorechance,onemore
strike/Anotherbulletdodged,anotherdateescaped.

Willinghamwasenteringhisfinalstageofappeals.Ashisanxietiesmounted,he

Willinghamwasenteringhisfinalstageofappeals.Ashisanxietiesmounted,he
increasinglyrelieduponGilberttoinvestigatehiscaseandforemotionalsupport.She
mayneverknowwhatachangeshebroughtintomylife,hewroteinhisdiary.For
thefirsttimeinmanyyearsshegavemeapurpose,somethingtolookforwardto.
Astheirfriendshipdeepened,heaskedhertopromisehimthatshewouldnever
disappearwithoutexplanation.Ialreadyhavethatinmylife,hetoldher.
Together,theyporedovercluesandtestimony.Gilbertsaysthatshewouldsend
Reavesleadstofollowup,butalthoughhewassympathetic,nothingseemedtocome
ofthem.In2002,afederaldistrictcourtofappealsdeniedWillinghamswritwithout
evenahearing.NowIstartthelastlegofmyjourney,WillinghamwrotetoGilbert.
Gottogetthingsinorder.
HeappealedtotheU.S.SupremeCourt,butinDecember,2003,hewasnotifiedthat
ithaddeclinedtohearhiscase.Hesoonreceivedacourtorderannouncingthatthe
DirectoroftheDepartmentofCriminalJusticeatHuntsville,Texas,actingbyand
throughtheexecutionerdesignatedbysaidDirector...isherebyDIRECTEDand
COMMANDED,atsomehourafter6:00p.m.onthe17thdayofFebruary,2004,at
theDepartmentofCriminalJusticeinHuntsville,Texas,tocarryoutthissentenceof
deathbyintravenousinjectionofasubstanceorsubstancesinalethalquantity
sufficienttocausethedeathofsaidCameronToddWillingham.
Willinghamwrotealettertohisparents.Areyousittingdown?heasked,before
breakingthenews.Iloveyoubothsomuch,hesaid.
HisonlyremainingrecoursewastoappealtothegovernorofTexas,RickPerry,a
Republican,forclemency.Theprocess,consideredthelastgatekeepertothe
executioner,hasbeencalledbytheU.S.SupremeCourtthefailsafeinourcriminal
justicesystem.

IV
Fetch,Ernie,fetch!

nedayinJanuary,2004,Dr.GeraldHurst,anacclaimedscientistandfire
investigator,receivedafiledescribingalltheevidenceofarsongatheredin
Willinghamscase.GilberthadcomeacrossHurstsnameand,alongwithoneof
Willinghamsrelatives,hadcontactedhim,seekinghishelp.Aftertheirpleas,Hurst
hadagreedtolookatthecaseprobono,andReaves,Willinghamslawyer,hadsent
himtherelevantdocuments,inthehopethatthereweregroundsforclemency.
HurstopenedthefileinthebasementofhishouseinAustin,whichservedasa
laboratoryandanoffice,andwasclutteredwithmicroscopesanddiagramsofhalffinishedexperiments.Hurstwasnearlysixandhalffeettall,thoughhisstooped
shouldersmadehimseemconsiderablyshorter,andhehadagauntfacethatwas
partlyshroudedbylonggrayhair.Hewaswearinghiscustomaryoutfit:blackshoes,
blacksocks,ablackT-shirt,andloose-fittingblackpantssupportedbyblack
suspenders.Inhismouthwasawadofchewingtobacco.
AchildprodigywhowasraisedbyasharecropperduringtheGreatDepression,Hurst
usedtoprowljunkyards,collectingmagnetsandcopperwiresinordertobuildradios
andothercontraptions.Intheearlysixties,hereceivedaPh.D.inchemistryfrom
CambridgeUniversity,wherehestartedtoexperimentwithfluorineandother
explosivechemicals,andoncedetonatedhislab.Later,heworkedasthechiefscientist
onsecretweaponsprogramsforseveralAmericancompanies,designingrocketsand
deadlyfirebombsorwhathecallsgod-awfulthings.Hehelpedpatentwhathas
beendescribed,withonlyslightexaggeration,astheworldsmostpowerful
nonnuclearexplosive:anAstrolitebomb.Heexperimentedwithtoxinssolethalthat
afractionofadropwouldrothumanflesh,andinhislaboratoryheoftenhadtowear
apressurizedmoonsuit;despitesuchprecautions,exposuretochemicalslikelycaused
hislivertofail,andin1994herequiredatransplant.Workingonwhathecallsthe
darksideofarson,heretrofittednapalmbombswithAstrolite,anddevelopedways
forcovertoperativesinVietnamtocreatebombsfromlocalmaterials,suchaschicken
manureandsugar.HealsoperfectedamethodformakinganexplodingT-shirtby
nitratingitsfibres.
Hisconscienceeventuallybeganprickinghim.Oneday,youwonder,Whatthehell
amIdoing?herecalls.Heleftthedefenseindustry,andwentontoinventtheMylar
balloon,animprovedversionofLiquidPaper,andKinepak,akindofexplosivethat
reducestheriskofaccidentaldetonation.Becauseofhisextraordinaryknowledgeof
fireandexplosives,companiesincivillitigationfrequentlysoughthishelpin
determiningthecauseofablaze.Bythenineties,Hursthadbegundevoting
significanttimetocriminal-arsoncases,and,ashewasexposedtothemethodsof
localandstatefireinvestigators,hewasshockedbywhathesaw.
Manyarsoninvestigators,itturnedout,hadonlyahigh-schooleducation.Inmost
states,inordertobecertified,investigatorshadtotakeaforty-hourcourseonfire
investigation,andpassawrittenexam.Often,thebulkofaninvestigatorstraining
cameonthejob,learningfromold-timersinthefield,whopasseddownabodyof

cameonthejob,learningfromold-timersinthefield,whopasseddownabodyof
wisdomaboutthetelltalesignsofarson,eventhoughastudyin1977warnedthat
therewasnothinginthescientificliteraturetosubstantiatetheirvalidity.
In1992,theNationalFireProtectionAssociation,whichpromotesfirepreventionand
safety,publisheditsfirstscientificallybasedguidelinestoarsoninvestigation.Still,
manyarsoninvestigatorsbelievedthatwhattheydidwasmoreanartthanascience
ablendofexperienceandintuition.In1997,theInternationalAssociationofArson
Investigatorsfiledalegalbriefarguingthatarsonsleuthsshouldnotbeboundbya
1993SupremeCourtdecisionrequiringexpertswhotestifiedattrialstoadheretothe
scientificmethod.Whatarsonsleuthsdid,thebriefclaimed,waslessscientific.By
2000,afterthecourtshadrejectedsuchclaims,arsoninvestigatorsincreasingly
recognizedthescientificmethod,butthereremainedgreatvarianceinthefield,with
manypractitionersstillrelyingontheunverifiedtechniquesthathadbeenusedfor
generations.Peopleinvestigatedfirelargelywithaflat-earthapproach,Hursttold
me.Itlookslikearsontherefore,itsarson.Hewenton,Myviewisyouhaveto
haveascientificbasis.Otherwise,itsnodifferentthanwitch-hunting.
In1998,HurstinvestigatedthecaseofawomanfromNorthCarolinanamedTerri
Hinson,whowaschargedwithsettingafirethatkilledherseventeen-month-oldson,
andfacedthedeathpenalty.Hurstranaseriesofexperimentsre-creatingthe
conditionsofthefire,whichsuggestedthatithadnotbeenarson,astheinvestigators
hadclaimed;rather,ithadstartedaccidentally,fromafaultyelectricalwireintheattic.
Becauseofthisresearch,Hinsonwasfreed.JohnLentini,afireexpertandtheauthor
ofaleadingscientifictextbookonarson,describesHurstasbrilliant.ATexas
prosecutoroncetoldtheChicagoTribune,ofHurst,Ifhesaysitwasanarsonfire,
thenitwas.Ifhesaysitwasnt,thenitwasnt.
Hurstspatentsyieldedconsiderableroyalties,andhecouldaffordtoworkprobono
onanarsoncaseformonths,evenyears.ButhereceivedthefilesonWillinghamscase
onlyafewweeksbeforeWillinghamwasscheduledtobeexecuted.AsHurstlooked
throughthecaserecords,astatementbyManuelVasquez,thestatedeputyfire
marshal,jumpedoutathim.Vasquezhadtestifiedthat,oftheroughlytwelvehundred
tofifteenhundredfireshehadinvestigated,mostallofthemwerearson.Thiswasan
oddlyhighestimate;theTexasStateFireMarshalsOfficetypicallyfoundarsonin
onlyfiftypercentofitscases.
HurstwasalsostruckbyVasquezsclaimthattheWillinghamblazehadburnedfast
andhotbecauseofaliquidaccelerant.Thenotionthataflammableorcombustible
liquidcausedflamestoreachhighertemperatureshadbeenrepeatedincourtbyarson
sleuthsfordecades.Yetthetheorywasnonsense:experimentshaveprovedthatwood
andgasoline-fuelledfiresburnatessentiallythesametemperature.
VasquezandFogghadcitedasproofofarsonthefactthatthefrontdoorsaluminum
thresholdhadmelted.Theonlythingthatcancausethattoreactisanaccelerant,
Vasquezsaid.Hurstwasincredulous.Anatural-woodfirecanreachtemperaturesas
highastwothousanddegreesFahrenheitfarhotterthanthemeltingpointfor

highastwothousanddegreesFahrenheitfarhotterthanthemeltingpointfor
aluminumalloys,whichrangesfromathousandtotwelvehundreddegrees.And,like
manyotherinvestigators,VasquezandFoggmistakenlyassumedthatwoodcharring
beneaththealuminumthresholdwasevidencethat,asVasquezputit,aliquid
accelerantflowedunderneathandburned.Hursthadconductedmyriadexperiments
showingthatsuchcharringwascausedsimplybythealuminumconductingsomuch
heat.Infact,whenliquidaccelerantispouredunderathresholdafirewillextinguish,
becauseofalackofoxygen.(Otherscientistshadreachedthesameconclusion.)
Liquidaccelerantscannomoreburnunderanaluminumthresholdthancangrease
burninaskilletevenwithaloose-fittinglid,Hurstdeclaredinhisreportonthe
Willinghamcase.
Wevebuiltontheirancestralmoonshininggrounds.

HurstthenexaminedFoggandVasquezsclaimthatthebrownstainson
Willinghamsfrontporchwereevidenceofliquidaccelerant,whichhadnothadtime
tosoakintotheconcrete.Hursthadpreviouslyperformedatestinhisgarage,in
whichhepouredcharcoal-lighterfluidontheconcretefloor,andlitit.Whenthefire
wentout,therewerenobrownstains,onlysmudgesofsoot.Hursthadrunthesame
experimentmanytimes,withdifferentkindsofliquidaccelerants,andtheresultwas
alwaysthesame.Brownstainswerecommoninfires;theywereusuallycomposedof
rustorgunkfromcharreddebristhathadmixedwithwaterfromfirehoses.
AnothercrucialpieceofevidenceimplicatingWillinghamwasthecrazedglassthat
Vasquezhadattributedtotherapidheatingfromafirefuelledwithliquidaccelerant.
Yet,inNovemberof1991,ateamoffireinvestigatorshadinspectedfiftyhousesinthe
hillsofOakland,California,whichhadbeenravagedbybrushfires.Inadozenhouses,
theinvestigatorsdiscoveredcrazedglass,eventhoughaliquidacceleranthadnotbeen
used.Mostofthesehouseswereontheoutskirtsoftheblaze,wherefirefightershad
shotstreamsofwater;astheinvestigatorslaterwroteinapublishedstudy,they
theorizedthatthefracturinghadbeeninducedbyrapidcooling,ratherthanbysudden
heatingthermalshockhadcausedtheglasstocontractsoquicklythatitsettled
disjointedly.Theinvestigatorsthentestedthishypothesisinalaboratory.Whenthey
heatedglass,nothinghappened.Buteachtimetheyappliedwatertotheheatedglass
theintricatepatternsappeared.Hursthadseenthesamephenomenonwhenhehad
blowtorchedandcooledglassduringhisresearchatCambridge.Inhisreport,Hurst

blowtorchedandcooledglassduringhisresearchatCambridge.Inhisreport,Hurst
wrotethatVasquezandFoggsnotionofcrazedglasswasnomorethananoldwives
tale.
Hurstthenconfrontedsomeofthemostdevastatingarsonevidenceagainst
Willingham:theburntrailer,thepourpatternsandpuddleconfigurations,theVshapeandotherburnmarksindicatingthatthefirehadmultiplepointsoforigin,the
burningunderneaththechildrensbeds.Therewasalsothepositivetestformineral
spiritsbythefrontdoor,andWillinghamsseeminglyimplausiblestorythathehad
runoutofthehousewithoutburninghisbarefeet.
AsHurstreadthroughmoreofthefiles,henoticedthatWillinghamandhis
neighborshaddescribedthewindowsinthefrontofthehousesuddenlyexploding
andflamesroaringforth.ItwasthenthatHurstthoughtofthelegendaryLimeStreet
Fire,oneofthemostpivotalinthehistoryofarsoninvestigation.

ntheeveningofOctober15,1990,athirty-five-year-oldmannamedGerald
WayneLewiswasfoundstandinginfrontofhishouseonLimeStreet,in
Jacksonville,Florida,holdinghisthree-year-oldson.Histwo-storywood-framehome
wasengulfedinflames.Bythetimethefirehadbeenextinguished,sixpeoplewere
dead,includingLewisswife.Lewissaidthathehadrescuedhissonbutwasunableto
gettotheothers,whowereupstairs.
Whenfireinvestigatorsexaminedthescene,theyfoundtheclassicsignsofarson:low
burnsalongthewallsandfloors,pourpatternsandpuddleconfigurations,andaburn
trailerrunningfromthelivingroomintothehallway.Lewisclaimedthatthefirehad
startedaccidentally,onacouchinthelivingroomhissonhadbeenplayingwith
matches.ButaV-shapedpatternbyoneofthedoorssuggestedthatthefirehad
originatedelsewhere.SomewitnessestoldauthoritiesthatLewisseemedtoocalm
duringthefireandhadnevertriedtogethelp.AccordingtotheLosAngelesTimes,
Lewishadpreviouslybeenarrestedforabusinghiswife,whohadtakenouta
restrainingorderagainsthim.Afterachemistsaidthathehaddetectedthepresence
ofgasolineonLewissclothingandshoes,areportbythesheriff sofficeconcluded,
Thefirewasstartedasaresultofapetroleumproductbeingpouredonthefront
porch,foyer,livingroom,stairwellandsecondfloorbedroom.Lewiswasarrestedand
chargedwithsixcountsofmurder.Hefacedthedeathpenalty.
Subsequenttests,however,revealedthatthelaboratoryidentificationofgasolinewas
wrong.Moreover,alocalnewstelevisioncamerahadcapturedLewisinaclearly
agitatedstateatthesceneofthefire,andinvestigatorsdiscoveredthatatonepointhe
hadjumpedinfrontofamovingcar,askingthedrivertocalltheFireDepartment.
Seekingtobolstertheirtheoryofthecrime,prosecutorsturnedtoJohnLentini,the
fireexpert,andJohnDeHaan,anotherleadinginvestigatorandtextbookauthor.
Despitesomeoftheweaknessesofthecase,Lentinitoldmethat,giventheclassic
burnpatternsandpuddleconfigurationsinthehouse,hewassurethatLewishadset

burnpatternsandpuddleconfigurationsinthehouse,hewassurethatLewishadset
thefire:IwaspreparedtotestifyandsendthisguytoOldSparkytheelectric
chair.
Todiscoverthetruth,theinvestigators,withthebackingoftheprosecution,decided
toconductanelaborateexperimentandre-createthefirescene.Localofficialsgave
theinvestigatorspermissiontouseacondemnedhousenexttoLewisshome,which
wasabouttobetorndown.Thetwohouseswerevirtuallyidentical,andthe
investigatorsrefurbishedthecondemnedonewiththesamekindofcarpeting,
curtains,andfurniturethathadbeeninLewisshome.Thescientistsalsowiredthe
buildingwithheatandgassensorsthatcouldwithstandfire.Thecostofthe
experimentcametotwentythousanddollars.Withoutusingliquidaccelerant,Lentini
andDeHaansetthecouchinthelivingroomonfire,expectingthattheexperiment
woulddemonstratethatLewissversionofeventswasimplausible.
Theinvestigatorswatchedasthefirequicklyconsumedthecouch,sendingupwarda
plumeofsmokethathittheceilingandspreadoutward,creatingathicklayerofhot
gasesoverheadanefficientradiatorofheat.Withinthreeminutes,thiscloud,
absorbingmoregasesfromthefirebelow,wasbankingdownthewallsandfillingthe
livingroom.Asthecloudapproachedthefloor,itstemperaturerose,insomeareas,to
morethanelevenhundreddegreesFahrenheit.Suddenly,theentireroomexplodedin
flames,astheradiantheatignitedeverypieceoffurniture,everycurtain,everypossible
fuelsource,eventhecarpeting.Thewindowsshattered.
Thefirehadreachedwhatiscalledflashoverthepointatwhichradiantheat
causesafireinaroomtobecomearoomonfire.Arsoninvestigatorsknewaboutthe
conceptofflashover,butitwaswidelybelievedtotakemuchlongertooccur,especially
withoutaliquidaccelerant.Fromasinglefuelsourceacouchtheroomhad
reachedflashoverinfourandahalfminutes.
Becauseallthefurnitureinthelivingroomhadignited,theblazewentfromafuelcontrolledfiretoaventilation-controlledfireorwhatscientistscallpost-flashover.
Duringpost-flashover,thepathofthefiredependsonnewsourcesofoxygen,froman
opendoororwindow.Oneofthefireinvestigators,whohadbeenstandingbyanopen
doorinthelivingroom,escapedmomentsbeforetheoxygen-starvedfireroaredoutof
theroomintothehallwayafireballthatcausedthecorridortogoquicklyinto
flashoveraswell,propellingthefireoutthefrontdoorandontotheporch.
Ibroughtapoundcakeincasetheydontlikethechum.

Afterthefirewasextinguished,theinvestigatorsinspectedthehallwayandliving
room.Onthefloorwereirregularlyshapedburnpatternsthatperfectlyresembled
pourpatternsandpuddleconfigurations.Itturnedoutthattheseclassicsignsofarson
canalsoappearontheirown,afterflashover.Withthenakedeye,itisimpossibleto
distinguishbetweenthepourpatternsandpuddleconfigurationscausedbyan
accelerantandthosecausednaturallybypost-flashover.Theonlyreliablewaytotell
thedifferenceistotakesamplesfromtheburnpatternsandtesttheminalaboratory
forthepresenceofflammableorcombustibleliquids.
DuringtheLimeStreetexperiment,otherthingshappenedthatweresupposedto
occuronlyinafirefuelledbyliquidaccelerant:charringalongthebaseofthewalls
anddoorways,andburningunderfurniture.TherewasalsoaV-shapedpatternbythe
living-roomdoorway,farfromwherethefirehadstartedonthecouch.Inasmallfire,
aV-shapedburnmarkmaypinpointwhereafirebegan,butduringpost-flashover
thesepatternscanoccurrepeatedly,whenvariousobjectsignite.
Oneoftheinvestigatorsmutteredthattheyhadjusthelpedprovethedefensescase.
Giventhereasonabledoubtraisedbytheexperiment,thechargesagainstLewiswere
soondropped.TheLimeStreetexperimenthaddemolishedprevailingnotionsabout
firebehavior.Subsequenttestsbyscientistsshowedthat,duringpost-flashover,
burningunderbedsandfurniturewascommon,entiredoorswereconsumed,and
aluminumthresholdsmelted.
JohnLentinisaysoftheLimeStreetFire,Thiswasmyepiphany.Ialmostsentaman
todiebasedontheoriesthatwerealoadofcrap.

urstnextexaminedafloorplanofWillinghamshousethatVasquezhaddrawn,
whichdelineatedallthepurportedpourpatternsandpuddleconfigurations.
Becausethewindowshadblownoutofthechildrensroom,Hurstknewthatthefire
hadreachedflashover.Withhisfinger,HursttracedalongVasquezsdiagramtheburn
trailerthathadgonefromthechildrensroom,turnedrightinthehallway,andheaded
outthefrontdoor.JohnJackson,theprosecutor,hadtoldmethatthepathwasso
bizarrethatithadtohavebeencausedbyaliquidaccelerant.ButHurstconcluded
thatitwasanaturalproductofthedynamicsoffireduringpost-flashover.

Willinghamhadfledoutthefrontdoor,andthefiresimplyfollowedtheventilation

Willinghamhadfledoutthefrontdoor,andthefiresimplyfollowedtheventilation
path,towardtheopening.Similarly,whenWillinghamhadbrokenthewindowsinthe
childrensroom,flameshadshotoutward.
HurstrecalledthatVasquezandFogghadconsidereditimpossibleforWillinghamto
haverundowntheburninghallwaywithoutscorchinghisbarefeet.Butifthepour
patternsandpuddleconfigurationswerearesultofaflashover,Hurstreasoned,then
theywereconsonantwithWillinghamsexplanationofevents.WhenWillingham
exitedhisbedroom,thehallwaywasnotyetonfire;theflameswerecontainedwithin
thechildrensbedroom,where,alongtheceiling,hesawthebrightlights.Justasthe
investigatorsafelystoodbythedoorintheLimeStreetexperimentsecondsbefore
flashover,Willinghamcouldhavestoodclosetothechildrensroomwithoutbeing
harmed.(PriortotheLimeStreetcase,fireinvestigatorshadgenerallyassumedthat
carbonmonoxidediffusesquicklythroughahouseduringafire.Infact,upuntil
flashover,levelsofcarbonmonoxidecanberemarkablylowbeneathandoutsidethe
thermalcloud.)BythetimetheCorsicanafireachievedflashover,Willinghamhad
alreadyfledoutsideandwasinthefrontyard.
Vasquezhadmadeavideotapeofthefirescene,andHurstlookedatthefootageofthe
burntrailer.Evenafterrepeatedviewings,hecouldnotdetectthreepointsoforigin,as
Vasquezhad.(Foggrecentlytoldmethathealsosawacontinuoustrailerand
disagreedwithVasquez,butaddedthatnobodyfromtheprosecutionorthedefense
everaskedhimonthestandabouthisopiniononthesubject.)
AfterHursthadreviewedFoggandVasquezslistofmorethantwentyarson
indicators,hebelievedthatonlyonehadanypotentialvalidity:thepositivetestfor
mineralspiritsbythethresholdofthefrontdoor.Butwhyhadthefireinvestigators
obtainedapositivereadingonlyinthatlocation?AccordingtoFoggandVasquezs
theoryofthecrime,Willinghamhadpouredaccelerantthroughoutthechildrens
bedroomanddownthehallway.Officialshadtestedextensivelyintheseareas
includingwhereallthepourpatternsandpuddleconfigurationswereandturnedup
nothing.Jacksontoldmethatheneverdidunderstandwhytheywerentableto
recoverpositivetestsintheseparts.
HurstfoundithardtoimagineWillinghampouringaccelerantonthefrontporch,
whereneighborscouldhaveseenhim.Scanningthefilesforclues,Hurstnoticeda
photographoftheporchtakenbeforethefire,whichhadbeenenteredintoevidence.
Sittingonthetinyporchwasacharcoalgrill.Theporchwaswherethefamily
barbecued.Courttestimonyfromwitnessesconfirmedthattherehadbeenagrill,
alongwithacontaineroflighterfluid,andthatbothhadburnedwhenthefireroared
ontotheporchduringpost-flashover.BythetimeVasquezinspectedthehouse,the
grillhadbeenremovedfromtheporch,duringcleanup.Thoughhecitedthecontainer
oflighterfluidinhisreport,hemadenomentionofthegrill.Atthetrial,heinsisted
thathehadneverbeentoldofthegrillsearlierplacement.Otherauthoritieswere

awareofthegrillbutdidnotseeitsrelevance.Hurst,however,wasconvincedthathe

awareofthegrillbutdidnotseeitsrelevance.Hurst,however,wasconvincedthathe
hadsolvedthemystery:whenfirefightershadblastedtheporchwithwater,theyhad
likelyspreadcharcoal-lighterfluidfromthemeltedcontainer.
Withouthavingvisitedthefirescene,Hurstsays,itwasimpossibletopinpointthe
causeoftheblaze.But,basedontheevidence,hehadlittledoubtthatitwasan
accidentalfireonecausedmostlikelybythespaceheaterorfaultyelectricalwiring.
Itexplainedwhytherehadneverbeenamotiveforthecrime.Hurstconcludedthat
therewasnoevidenceofarson,andthatamanwhohadalreadylosthisthreechildren
andspenttwelveyearsinjailwasabouttobeexecutedbasedonjunkscience.Hurst
wrotehisreportinsucharushthathedidntpausetofixthetypos.

amarealistandIwillnotliveafantasy,WillinghamoncetoldGilbertabout
theprospectofprovinghisinnocence.ButinFebruary,2004,hebegantohave
hope.Hurstsfindingshadhelpedtoexoneratemorethantenpeople.Hursteven
reviewedthescientificevidenceagainstWillinghamsfriendErnestWillis,whohad
beenondeathrowforthestrikinglysimilararsoncharge.Hurstsays,ItwaslikeIwas
lookingatthesamecase.Justchangethenames.InhisreportontheWilliscase,
Hurstconcludedthatnotasingleitemofphysicalevidence...supportsafindingof
arson.AsecondfireexperthiredbyOriWhite,thenewdistrictattorneyinWilliss
district,concurred.Afterseventeenyearsondeathrow,Williswassetfree.Idont
turnkillersloose,Whitesaidatthetime.IfWilliswasguilty,Idberetryinghim
rightnow.AndIduseHurstasmywitness.Hesabrilliantscientist.Whitenoted
howclosethesystemhadcometomurderinganinnocentman.Hedidnotget
executed,andIthankGodforthat,hesaid.

OnFebruary13th,fourdaysbeforeWillinghamwasscheduledtobeexecuted,hegot
acallfromReaves,hisattorney.Reavestoldhimthatthefifteenmembersofthe
BoardofPardonsandParoles,whichreviewsanapplicationforclemencyandhad
beensentHurstsreport,hadmadetheirdecision.
Whatisit?Willinghamasked.

Whatisit?Willinghamasked.
Imsorry,Reavessaid.Theydeniedyourpetition.
Thevotewasunanimous.Reavescouldnotofferanexplanation:theboarddeliberates
insecret,anditsmembersarenotboundbyanyspecificcriteria.Theboardmembers
didnotevenhavetoreviewWillinghamsmaterials,andusuallydontdebateacasein
person;rather,theycasttheirvotesbyfaxaprocessthathasbecomeknownasdeath
byfax.Between1976and2004,whenWillinghamfiledhispetition,theStateof
Texashadapprovedonlyoneapplicationforclemencyfromaprisonerondeathrow.
ATexasappellatejudgehascalledtheclemencysystemalegalfiction.Reavessaidof
theboardmembers,Theyneveraskedmetoattendahearingoranswerany
questions.
TheInnocenceProjectobtained,throughtheFreedomofInformationAct,allthe
recordsfromthegovernorsofficeandtheboardpertainingtoHurstsreport.The
documentsshowthattheyreceivedthereport,butneitherofficehasanyrecordof
anyoneacknowledgingit,takingnoteofitssignificance,respondingtoit,orcalling
anyattentiontoitwithinthegovernment,BarrySchecksaid.Theonlyreasonable
conclusionisthatthegovernorsofficeandtheBoardofPardonsandParolesignored
scientificevidence.
LaFayetteCollins,whowasamemberoftheboardatthetime,toldmeoftheprocess,
Youdontvoteguiltorinnocence.Youdontretrythetrial.Youjustmakesure
everythingisinorderandtherearenoglaringerrors.Henotedthatalthoughthe
rulesallowedforahearingtoconsiderimportantnewevidence,inmytimetherehad
neverbeenonecalled.WhenIaskedhimwhyHurstsreportdidntconstitute
evidenceofglaringerrors,hesaid,Wegetallkindsofreports,butwedonthavethe
mechanismstovetthem.AlvinShaw,anotherboardmemberatthetime,saidthat
thecasedidntringabell,adding,angrily,WhywouldIwanttotalkaboutit?
Hurstcallstheboardsactionsunconscionable.
ThoughReavestoldWillinghamthattherewasstillachancethatGovernorPerry
mightgrantathirty-daystay,Willinghambegantopreparehislastwillandtestament.
HehadearlierwrittenStacyaletterapologizingfornotbeingabetterhusbandand
thankingherforeverythingshehadgivenhim,especiallytheirthreedaughters.Istill
knowAmbersvoice,hersmile,hercoolDudesayingandhowshesaid:Iwannahold
you!StillfeelthetouchofKarmonandKameronshandsonmyface.Hesaidthathe
hopedthatsomeday,somehowthetruthwillbeknownandmynamecleared.
HeaskedStacyifhistombstonecouldbeerectednexttotheirchildrensgraves.Stacy,
whohadforsolongexpressedbeliefinWillinghamsinnocence,hadrecentlytaken
herfirstlookattheoriginalcourtrecordsandarsonfindings.UnawareofHursts
report,shehaddeterminedthatWillinghamwasguilty.Shedeniedhimhiswish,later
tellingareporter,Hetookmykidsawayfromme.
GilbertfeltasifshehadfailedWillingham.Evenbeforehispleasforclemencywere

GilbertfeltasifshehadfailedWillingham.Evenbeforehispleasforclemencywere
denied,shetoldhimthatallshecouldgivehimwasherfriendship.Hetoldherthatit
wasenoughtobeapartofyourlifeinsomesmallwaysothatinmypassingIcan
knowIwasatlastabletohavefelttheheartofanotherwhomightrememberme
whenImgone.Headded,Thereisnothingtoforgiveyoufor.Hetoldherthathe
wouldneedhertobepresentathisexecution,tohelphimcopewithmyfears,
thoughts,andfeelings.
OnFebruary17th,thedayhewassettodie,Willinghamsparentsandseveralrelatives
gatheredintheprisonvisitingroom.PlexiglasstillseparatedWillinghamfromthem.
IwishIcouldtouchandholdbothofyou,Willinghamhadwrittentothemearlier.
IalwayshuggedMombutIneverhuggedPopmuch.
AsWillinghamlookedatthegroup,hekeptaskingwhereGilbertwas.Gilberthad
recentlybeendrivinghomefromastorewhenanothercarranaredlightandsmashed
intoher.Willinghamusedtotellhertostayinherkitchenforaday,withoutleaving,
tocomprehendwhatitwasliketobeconfinedinprison,butshehadalwaysfoundan
excusenottodoit.Nowshewasparalyzedfromtheneckdown.
Whileshewasinanintensive-careunit,shehadtriedtogetamessagetoWillingham,
butapparentlyfailed.GilbertsdaughterlaterreadheraletterthatWillinghamhad
senther,tellingherhowmuchhehadgrowntoloveher.Hehadwrittenapoem:Do
youwanttoseebeautylikeyouhaveneverseen?/Thencloseyoureyes,andopen
yourmind,andcomealongwithme.
Gilbert,whospentyearsinphysicalrehabilitation,graduallyregainingmotioninher
armsandupperbody,says,Allthattime,IthoughtIwassavingWillingham,andI
realizedthenthathewassavingme,givingmethestrengthtogetthroughthis.I
knowIwillonedaywalkagain,andIknowitisbecauseWillinghamshowedmethe
kindofcourageittakestosurvive.
Willinghamhadrequestedafinalmeal,andat4P.M.ontheseventeenthhewas
servedit:threebarbecuedporkribs,twoordersofonionrings,friedokra,threebeef
enchiladaswithcheese,andtwoslicesoflemoncreampie.Hereceivedwordthat
GovernorPerryhadrefusedtogranthimastay.(AspokespersonforPerrysays,The
Governormadehisdecisionbasedonthefactsofthecase.)Willinghamsmotherand
fatherbegantocry.Dontbesad,Momma,Willinghamsaid.Infifty-fiveminutes,
Imafreeman.Imgoinghometoseemykids.Earlier,hehadconfessedtohis
parentsthattherewasonethingaboutthedayofthefirehehadliedabout.Hesaid
thathehadneveractuallycrawledintothechildrensroom.Ijustdidntwantpeople
tothinkIwasacoward,hesaid.Hursttoldme,Peoplewhohaveneverbeeninafire
dontunderstandwhythosewhosurviveoftencantrescuethevictims.Theyhaveno
conceptofwhatafireislike.
IdontthinktheresenoughvodkaforanotherweekinCanada.

ThewardentoldWillinghamthatitwastime.Willingham,refusingtoassistthe
process,laydown;hewascarriedintoachambereightfeetwideandtenfeetlong.The
wallswerepaintedgreen,andinthecenteroftheroom,whereanelectricchairusedto
be,wasasheetedgurney.SeveralguardsstrappedWillinghamdownwithleatherbelts,
snappingbucklesacrosshisarmsandlegsandchest.Amedicalteamtheninserted
intravenoustubesintohisarms.Eachofficialhadaseparateroleintheprocess,sothat
noonepersonfeltresponsiblefortakingalife.
Willinghamhadaskedthathisparentsandfamilynotbepresentinthegalleryduring
thisprocess,butashelookedouthecouldseeStacywatching.Thewardenpusheda
remotecontrol,andsodiumthiopental,abarbiturate,waspumpedintoWillinghams
body.Thencameaseconddrug,pancuroniumbromide,whichparalyzesthe
diaphragm,makingitimpossibletobreathe.Finally,athirddrug,potassiumchloride,
filledhisveins,untilhisheartstopped,at6:20P.M.Onhisdeathcertificate,thecause
waslistedasHomicide.
Afterhisdeath,hisparentswereallowedtotouchhisfaceforthefirsttimeinmore
thanadecade.Later,atWillinghamsrequest,theycrematedhisbodyandsecretly
spreadsomeofhisashesoverhischildrensgraves.Hehadtoldhisparents,Please
donteverstopfightingtovindicateme.
InDecember,2004,questionsaboutthescientificevidenceintheWillinghamcase
begantosurface.MauricePossleyandSteveMills,oftheChicagoTribune,had
publishedaninvestigativeseriesonflawsinforensicscience;uponlearningofHursts
report,PossleyandMillsaskedthreefireexperts,includingJohnLentini,toexamine
theoriginalinvestigation.TheexpertsconcurredwithHurstsreport.Nearlytwoyears
later,theInnocenceProjectcommissionedLentiniandthreeothertopfire
investigatorstoconductanindependentreviewofthearsonevidenceinthe
Willinghamcase.Thepanelconcludedthateachandeveryoneoftheindicatorsof
arsonhadbeenscientificallyproventobeinvalid.
In2005,Texasestablishedagovernmentcommissiontoinvestigateallegationsoferror
andmisconductbyforensicscientists.Thefirstcasesthatarebeingreviewedbythe
commissionarethoseofWillinghamandWillis.Inmid-August,thenotedfire
scientistCraigBeyler,whowashiredbythecommission,completedhisinvestigation.
Inascathingreport,heconcludedthatinvestigatorsintheWillinghamcasehadno
scientificbasisforclaimingthatthefirewasarson,ignoredevidencethatcontradicted

scientificbasisforclaimingthatthefirewasarson,ignoredevidencethatcontradicted
theirtheory,hadnocomprehensionofflashoverandfiredynamics,reliedon
discreditedfolklore,andfailedtoeliminatepotentialaccidentaloralternativecausesof
thefire.HesaidthatVasquezsapproachseemedtodenyrationalreasoningandwas
morecharacteristicofmysticsorpsychics.Whatsmore,Beylerdeterminedthatthe
investigationviolated,asheputittome,notonlythestandardsoftodaybutevenof
thetimeperiod.Thecommissionisreviewinghisfindings,andplanstoreleaseits
ownreportnextyear.Somelegalscholarsbelievethatthecommissionmaynarrowly
assessthereliabilityofthescientificevidence.Thereisachance,however,thatTexas
couldbecomethefirststatetoacknowledgeofficiallythat,sincetheadventofthe
modernjudicialsystem,ithadcarriedouttheexecutionofalegallyandfactually
innocentperson.
JustbeforeWillinghamreceivedthelethalinjection,hewasaskedifhehadanylast
words.Hesaid,TheonlystatementIwanttomakeisthatIamaninnocentman
convictedofacrimeIdidnotcommit.Ihavebeenpersecutedfortwelveyearsfor
somethingIdidnotdo.FromGodsdustIcameandtodustIwillreturn,sotheEarth
shallbecomemythrone.

DavidGrannhasbeenastaffwriteratTheNewYorkersince2003.