TEXAS LAST MEAL
CAMERON WILLINGHAM
February 17, 2004

...an obscenity-laced farewell....

Last Meal: Three barbequed pork ribs, two orders of onion rings, fried okra, three beef enchiladas with cheese and two slices of lemon creme pie.

The skinny: Willingham, 36, a former auto mechanic, was executed for the deaths of his three young children in a fire at their home two days before Christmas 12 years ago.

When firefighters arrived at the burning five-bedroom house Willingham was outside. At his trial, neighbors said he was outdoors even before flames engulfed the place and was concerned about his car getting scorched. Prosecutors contended he just wanted to get rid of the children. Evidence at his trial showed an accelerant, believed to be charcoal lighter fluid, was used to ignite the floors, a front threshold to the house and on a concrete porch. A fire marshal testified the placement of the accelerant was designed to impede any rescue efforts by firefighters.

"Dude's a liar," Willingham said in a recent interview on death row. "It's all a farce ... They just didn't want to pursue what really happened." Willingham suggested a lantern lamp dumped fluid when a shelf collapsed inside the house and caught fire or his oldest daughter, who was "fascinated with everything," accidentally set off the blaze. "Either that or someone came in with the intent to kill me and the children," he said.

Leading up to....Last week, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted 15-0 to deny a clemency request. "I can't think of a more horrible case," said Pat Batchelor, who was district attorney in Navarro County when Willingham was the lone survivor of the blaze Dec. 23, 1991. "All you had to do was see the pictures of little babies. "Anybody that can do that, you just think: My God, what kind of sadistic monster is this?"

Last Words and such: "The only statement I want to make is that I am an innocent man convicted of a crime I did not commit. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do." Mr. Willingham said. "From God's dust I came and to dust I will return, so the Earth shall become my throne. I gotta go, road dog." He expressed love to someone named Gabby and then addressed his ex-wife who was watching about 8 feet away through a window. He told her repeatedly in obscenity-laced language that he hoped she would "rot in hell" and attempted to maneuver his hand, strapped at the wrist, into an obscene gesture.

His former wife showed no reaction to the outburst.

Factoids: Willingham was the...

14th murderer executed in U.S. in 2004
899th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
7th murderer executed in Texas in 2004
320th murderer executed in Texas since 1976

OKLAHOMA LAST MEAL
NORMAN RICHARD CLEARY
February 17, 2004

...malts....

Last Meal: Two foot-long chili-cheese hot-dogs, a large chocolate malt, a large vanilla malt and six pieces of extra crispy chicken -- two breasts, two thighs and two legs.

The skinny: Cleary, 38, was executed for the murder of Tulsa housekeeper.

The woman was working at a home in an upper-class in Tulsa when Cleary and an accomplice arrived. The two men had already knocked on at least two other doors, looking for a home to burglarize. But when the victim saw a gun fall from Chandler's coat, the men panicked and plans changed. Cleary, who was 25 years old at the time, led the woman around the house at gunpoint and finally shot her when she didn't have the combination to a basement safe. She was found later slumped in a chair. She had been shot five times in the face, neck and head.

The only items the homeowners determined missing were the victim's purse and a cane the family had purchased at the Smithsonian Institution.

The accomplice involved in the burglary was tried separately and sentenced to life in prison.

Last words and such: In his final moments, Cleary expressed his grief to the family of the woman he killed and his love for his family. "Again, I'd like to apologize to my victim's family, to tell them how sorry I am for the pain I've caused them," Cleary said in his final statement. "I hope that someday they can forgive me. "For my family, just thank you for loving me. Thank you and God bless you." As he finished speaking, Cleary turned left to look at his family. Several of the witnesses said, "I love you."

Factoids: Cleary was the....

13th murderer executed in U.S. in 2004
898th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
2nd murderer executed in Oklahoma in 2004
71st murderer executed in Oklahoma since 1976

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The final meal request of Cameron Todd Willingham, Texas, February 17, 2004.

Three bbq pork ribs, two orders of onion rings, fried okra, three beef enchiladas with cheese and two slices of lemon creme pie.

A complete summary will follow shortly.

audio post powered by audblog

The final meal request of Norman Richard Cleary, Oklahoma, February 17, 2004.

Two foot-long chili-cheese hot-dogs, a large chocolate malt, a large vanilla malt and six pieces of extra crispy chicken - two breasts, two thighs and two legs.

A complete summary will follow shortly.