Documents and Artifacts

"You asked me what it was that kept me going, then answered the question yourself. My bitterness! If it were not for my bitterness and anger I would have given up long ago."

"The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man -- convicted of a crime I did not commit. ..." The last part of his statement is filled with expletives directed at his ex-wife.

"… the account given by the occupant on how he escaped the fire is not consistent with the facts. The account is determined to be pure fabrication. A fire does not lie."

"On first reading, one might well wonder how anyone could make so many critical errors in interpreting the evidence."

Appeal attorney's habeas writ for stay of execution; arson expert Gerald Hurst's report; Texas' response to habeas writ; brother-in-law's stunning last minute affidavit; Willingham's attorney's response to Texas' response to writ; U.S. Supreme Court's denial of writ.

"I tried to get him in the house but he would not go … the house became engulfed and the electricity started popping. When this happened I knew that the babies could not be alive." --Diane Barbee, neighbor

Conducted eight days after the Dec. 23, 1991, fire. FOGG: Did anyone come up to help you, any of the neighbors, any strangers come up to help you before the … arrival of the fire department? WILLINGHAM: Nobody. There was a few people accumulatin' but they was just standin' around.

VASQUEZ: … did you and your husband have any disagreements on the night [before the fire] after KMart? WILLINGHAM: No. No we didn't. VASQUEZ: Did he get angry at you for any reason? WILLINGHAM: No.

Johnnie Webb was a key witness for the prosecution at Willingham's trial. Then he recanted: "... I was forced to testify against Mr. Willingham by the DA's office and other officials ..."

As published on The Innocence Project's website.

As published on The Innocence Project's website.