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In another statement Todd told he woke by hearing Amber yelling, “Daddy, Daddy”, realized the house was on fire, told Amber, a two-year old, to get out of the house. He went to the twins room, got on the floor and tried to feel for the babies. He said he was unable to find them so his made his way out of the room and to the front door but only this time in his story the door wasn’t on fire so he was able to just open the door and walk right out of it. Amber didn’t get out of the house when Todd told her to. She was only two. I can’t think of many two-year olds that would know how to get out of a burning house. Before Todd was executed he confessed to his family that he never went into the twins room at all to try and save them, that he had lied about it. Actually, he stood outside of our home as the house engulfed in flames knowing his three daughters were inside.
When Todd told me that he wasn’t going to testify on his own behalf I could not believe it. How could someone say he is innocent and not testify on his own behalf? I kept thinking he should have been up on that stand screaming that he was innocent. Todd and his family were satisfied with the lawyers that he had during the trial. He spent eight months with both lawyers before they went to trial. He didn’t call his trial a joke until after he was found guilty. Twelve years after Todd was sent to death row I went to visit with him. I believe it was two weeks before his execution. There were no harsh words said between us, neither one of us blasted the other. We sat across from each other in a very calm manner. At first, there was just small talk between us. Todd said after twelve years it seemed hard for him to say anything. I told him that I would start by asking him a few questions and then he could do the same. I asked him to tell me what happened the day of the fire, he responded with, “I woke up by Amber’s voice yelling, Daddy, Daddy, got up, told her to get out of the house and then went into the girls’ room, got on the floor to search for the twins, it became way to hot so I got out of the room and headed to the front door and exited the house.” I then asked Todd if he remembered what he had told me while in county jail before his trial. I reminded him that he had already told me that he never attempted to go into the girl’s room and try to save them, that he actually got out of bed, told a two-year old to get out of the house and then walked out the front door. I asked him why wouldn’t an innocent man testify on his on behalf? Todd said it was because he told different stories about what happened that day and once you have said it you can’t take it back. Todd told me several times about the Board of Pardons and Paroles which reviews applications for clemency. He told me that he didn’t feel that he had any rights to ask me to write a letter on his behalf to the Board but could I just think about it and I told him that I would. He stated that he believed since I was the mother of the girls and if I were to ask them to give him a life sentence instead of execution that he may get it. He gave me the name of his lawyer so I could contact him with the information on what I would have to do. We talked about his execution. He told me that he had blocked it so no one could witness it. I told Todd that I had also blocked his execution. Todd did cry a few times during our visit he said it was hard for him to see me and sit across from me. I just let Todd talk and I listened. I think we both knew at this point it may be the last time we ever would speak to each other again.
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