Death by Fire

At the center of the national death penalty debate today is the controversial case of Cameron Todd Willingham, put to death for the arson-murder of his three little girls. But was he guilty?

FAQsHow common are questionable arson conviction cases like this one? More-- InterviewsElizabeth Gilbert: an early skeptic. Gerald Hurst: arson expert. Sgt. Jimmie Hensley: 'he did it' DocumentsStacy and Todd's police interviews, the prison letters, a shocking final statement ... ReadingsLocal/national stories; the science of arson; debating capital punishment DiscussionIs this the case that could change the death penalty debate?

the latest

October 25, 2012, 2:13 pm
Family of Executed Texas Man Seeks to Clear His Name

Eight years after Cameron Todd Willingham was executed for the 1991 arson-murder of his three young children, his surviving family members asked the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to pardon him posthumously yesterday.

August 10, 2012, 10:06 am
Texas Arson Review Yields A Handful of Questionable Cases

How many Texans are in prison for arson fires that, in fact, were accidents?

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Did Texas execute an innocent man?

Several controversial death penalty cases are currently under examination in Texas and in other states, but it's the 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham -- convicted for the arson deaths of his three young children -- that's now at the center of the national debate.

In Death by Fire, FRONTLINE gains unique access to those closest to the Willingham case -- meticulously examining the evidence used to convict Willingham, offering an in-depth portrait of those most impacted by the case, and exploring the explosive implications of the execution of a possibly innocent man. (read more »)

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