1 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: Hey there, folks. It is Wednesday, March fourth, and at 2 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: six twenty four pm last night, a man was declared 3 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: dead thirty five years after he was convicted of killing 4 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: a police officer. And after thirty five years, the family 5 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: of that officer heard something from him they had not 6 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: heard in the past thirty five years. I'm sorry, and 7 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Robes. 8 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:44,160 Speaker 1: Words matter. This came late, This came at the last 9 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: possible moment. But we don't see this often in the 10 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: final words of death row inmates, and it seems to 11 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:51,200 Speaker 1: have had an impact. 12 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 2: This one brought tears to my eyes to hear the 13 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 2: suffering of a widow for more than three decades and 14 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 2: to be fighting for justice in her husband's honor. To 15 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 2: finally find peace through those words I'm sorry. It's remarkable 16 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 2: and it's a lesson for everybody. I was so moved 17 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 2: hearing this exchange and seeing the result of it. Yes, 18 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 2: a lot of people have differing opinions on the death 19 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:26,759 Speaker 2: penalty and on executions, and this is beyond that, because 20 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 2: this is about not only apologizing, but about forgiveness. 21 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: You know, this is also about quite frankly, Rob it's 22 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: just more death. I understand, what does justice look like 23 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: for this family, for anybody else, I don't know. Well, Robes, 24 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: it's it's tough to have a moment where there's celebration 25 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: or a celebration of justice even or even seeing a 26 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: penalty actually gone through with by the state of Florida. 27 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: Here but Robes, you just sink once again to where 28 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: and this and we'll get into her exact words. But 29 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: this suggestion question that anybody is celebrating when we went 30 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: through the ceremony, is what it feels like sometimes of 31 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: formally executing somebody, this is never a night or a 32 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: moment worth celebrating. 33 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 3: It feels yeah. I had a thought, Yes, I agree 34 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 3: with that certainly. 35 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 2: And there were both sides, people who were probe death 36 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 2: penalty saying it's about time Billy Leon Curse was executed. 37 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 2: And then there's always the other side that is fighting 38 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 2: for life, the right to live. 39 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 3: And you know what we complain about. 40 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 2: And I understand not as a victim of crime or 41 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 2: as somebody who has lost someone to crime or to 42 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 2: a criminal act. 43 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 3: But maybe it. 44 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:44,079 Speaker 2: Took those thirty five years on death row in prison 45 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 2: for him to come to the realization to be able 46 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 2: to give. 47 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 3: This widow some peace. Maybe he needed all of that 48 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 3: time of reflection. 49 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 2: My point being a lot of folks who advocate against 50 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 2: the death penalty say, if you give the life in 51 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 2: prison without possible building a parole, as that being the 52 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 2: ultimate punishment, you do give the opportunity for people to 53 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 2: come around to recognize the cruelty of their past actions 54 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 2: and to give perhaps families peace through written word, through 55 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 2: at least some way to. 56 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 3: Say I'm sorry. 57 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 2: It might take these folks that long, and it was 58 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:24,839 Speaker 2: a gift to give that to this family. 59 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: At those moments are few and far between as we know. 60 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: But if it worked out in this case, that is fine. 61 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: But folks, this is Florida carrying out what is his 62 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: third execution of the year. It's his third in three 63 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: weeks actually, and we mentioned Florida of course, always relevant 64 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: because of what happened last year. They set a new 65 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: record for themselves, double their previous record. They had nineteen 66 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: executions last year, leading the way in this country. But 67 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: last night executing Billy Leon Curse. He got a three 68 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: drug cocktail which was the lethal injection and declared dead 69 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: at six twenty four pm again, the crime was back 70 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety one, but roads was interesting. I thought 71 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: this was great. The person he killed was a police officer, 72 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: and here we are thirty five years later. Some of 73 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: those officers who served with him showed up, along with 74 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: family members, along with the ex wife. Yes, they excuse me, 75 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: I say, ex wife, she's not what they were married 76 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: at the time. 77 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, but no, they said. 78 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 2: More than a dozen people filled that witness chamber to 79 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 2: witness this execution, and it was filled with people who 80 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,799 Speaker 2: knew and loved the victim in this case, Danny Parrish. 81 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 2: He was twenty nine years old at the time of 82 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 2: his killing. And to see, yes, those fellow officers and 83 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 2: family members of his gather around to witness this final 84 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 2: act of justice. 85 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: And justice we that look, we're not we'll tell you 86 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: what happened, not going to get into what justice looks like. 87 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: And again what we always say, ropes defer to the 88 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: family members if they I always I would advocate for 89 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: that that our legal system should ask the family do 90 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 1: you want them to be executed? To not let them 91 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 1: make the call. But in this particular case, the family 92 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 1: stayed with this case and kept an eye on it 93 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: all these years and still showed up. We'll tell you 94 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 1: that yesterday and this struck me as well. And your 95 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 1: heart is not my heart goes out and you robes. 96 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: I will always feel bad about death. Right, This is 97 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: not necessarily sympathy necessary for this man who created, who 98 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: did this heinous crime, Billy Leon Curse Ropes on his 99 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: final day, his final moment at the end of his life. 100 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: It's a fifty five year old man. I think I 101 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: have the age right, fifty five to fifty three. 102 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 3: I think he's, yes, fifty three years old. I believe, yes, fifty. 103 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: Three years old. His last day on earth, he got 104 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 1: one visitor, Robes and it wasn't a family member even 105 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: something about that, and this whole ceremony just feels just 106 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 1: feels icky, the death family in this country. 107 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, he was eighteen years old at the time of 108 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 2: this crime. Again not excusing what he did, but he 109 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 2: was eighteen and he is right on the borderline for IQ. 110 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 3: So that was part of the argument as he I believe. 111 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 2: Seventeen appeals throughout the years trying to vacate this death 112 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 2: penalty sentence. But there were arguments that yes he was eighteen, 113 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 2: and yes he was mentally challenged. But he had his 114 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 2: spiritual advisor come visit him on the day of his 115 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 2: execution on yesterday, and yes, that was his only visitor. 116 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 1: It's lonely, that's wrong, that's I mean, just life. We 117 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 1: always talk about life and whose life life life. There 118 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:32,280 Speaker 1: was a life that was lost last night. There was 119 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: a life that he took. Yes, all of that. It's 120 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 1: actually all horrible. It's actually all horrible. I am not 121 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 1: making any defense for this guy and what he went 122 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: through in his background and some people. That's not the argument. 123 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: It's just it's something very heavy about us going through 124 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: this ceremony of executing somebody, and this man on his 125 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: last day didn't have a family member, didn't didn't have 126 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: anybody show up that cared about him, essentially outside of 127 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: his spiritual advisor. But again, all these people that showed 128 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: up and they did care about this officer, this officer 129 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: who I mean, I can't remember right now the death 130 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: toll from Operation Desert's dorm. But this officer was an 131 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: Army sergeant who was months away from being deployed to 132 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: a war zone. But he gets killed here mean that 133 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: it's just this whole thing. 134 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 2: I don't now and when you hear about the crime 135 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 2: that he pulled over Kres who was driving, I believe 136 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 2: the opposite way. So he pulls him over, a danger 137 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 2: to himself and to anyone else who was on the 138 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 2: road at that time. And when he didn't provide a 139 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 2: driver's license, he said, you need to get out of 140 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 2: the car, you know, put your hands. 141 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 3: He is going to arrest him. 142 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 2: And according to the police documents, apparently Kers claims that 143 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 2: the handcuffs that he was using accidentally hit him in 144 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 2: the eye and he. 145 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 3: Turned around and said, what's going on man? And then 146 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 3: when he did. 147 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 2: That, he said he saw Officer Paris reach for his gun, 148 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 2: and so he grabbed the gun and just started shooting 149 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 2: more than a dozen times. I believe he shot him 150 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 2: thirty ten times. And Danny Parrish was wearing a bulletproof vest, 151 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 2: but he still managed. I read this chilling account, and 152 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 2: this was from Kars saying that Danny Perrish begged for 153 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 2: his life at the end. Please don't do it, man, 154 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 2: please don't do it. And he did it anyway, and 155 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 2: that was curious. Admitting that that is how it went down. 156 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 2: That is chilling, that is heinous, that is horrific. 157 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: And this is not a crime. But this is not 158 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: a case where anyone's making an argument about guilt or innocence. 159 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: This is not that We have seen some of those 160 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:36,439 Speaker 1: cases in the past, and even some sentences changed. We've 161 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: seen people in historically in this country who've actually been 162 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,319 Speaker 1: taken off death row when new evidence came. This is 163 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: not that case. So people who are arguing on his behalf, 164 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: where essentially we're arguing against just the death penalty in general, 165 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: not necessarily arguing for his innocence. Now, we always mention 166 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 1: this robes that usually start right at six o'clock. Doctor 167 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: comes in, shade goes back, audience sitting there watching audience 168 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: seems like a weird thing to say, but yes, there 169 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 1: are people there gathered to watch this. They come in, 170 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: they give them the cocktail. It does take about twenty 171 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: five minutes, so six twenty four is when he was 172 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: declared dead. This robes, unlike some we've seen, he didn't 173 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: seem to react that much after being given the drugs. 174 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: From what we see, sometimes we see some adverse reactions, 175 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: if you will, This one didn't seem like much happened 176 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 1: after he was given the dosage. 177 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 2: Yes, the reports from the journalists who were in the 178 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 2: room just said he twitched a couple of times, which 179 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 2: is fairly standard, and that he then just went to sleep. 180 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,199 Speaker 2: And so as in terms of executions, this was about 181 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 2: as peaceful as they get. 182 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: So, yes, that went to plan. It's always ropes fascinating. 183 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 1: Two things with death row inmates. We ask about the 184 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,079 Speaker 1: final meal, and we ask about the final words and 185 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: the final as you mentioned here, final meal. There's nothing 186 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 1: to report there. They actually say he refused, declined to 187 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: have a final meal. There was somewhere in the past 188 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: two or three we did cover someone else did that 189 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: stomach was just we said, how can you eat? 190 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 2: Honestly, I'm fairly certain I think we all, maybe anecdotally 191 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 2: talk about, oh what would your final meal be be? 192 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 2: I've thought about it and thought to myself, I don't 193 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 2: think I could eat because when I'm stressed, or I'm upset, 194 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,079 Speaker 2: or I'm nervous or any of the above. 195 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:19,680 Speaker 3: I cannot eat. 196 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 2: So I can't imagine having a big old last meal, 197 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 2: thinking whoo, this is it? 198 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 3: So that actually makes perfect sense. 199 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: And we know some do. We've seen some incredible meals before. 200 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 1: But he refused a last meal. But then the last 201 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: words Robes, several of them. There's some risks refuse, some 202 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: say no, some say I'm on my way as quick. 203 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: He had a. 204 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 2: Message, he certainly did, and it packed a punch in 205 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,319 Speaker 2: terms of the impact it had on the family. We'll 206 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 2: get into that because that is perhaps the beautiful part 207 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 2: of this story. But here's his final words were this 208 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 2: to his family, I sincerely apologize for what I've done. 209 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 2: There is no way I can repay that. With this death, 210 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 2: it will never repay that. And in turn, I pray 211 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:09,559 Speaker 2: my father give me strength to ask their forgiveness so 212 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 2: I can go on my journey. All I can do 213 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 2: is ask for their forgiveness, to give you peace and resolve. 214 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:17,559 Speaker 3: Thank you. 215 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: Look reading on paper that comes off a certain way. 216 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: We weren't in there. Don't know how it came across 217 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:27,079 Speaker 1: in Robes. If he could, why now don't know. Because 218 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,680 Speaker 1: he had plenty of opportunities rose because after he was convicted, 219 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: after he was sentenced to death, that was appealed and 220 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 1: he won and had a resentencing hearing, he had opportunities 221 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: to pour his heart out in this way that maybe 222 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: could have saved him from the death penalty. There were 223 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: other times to possibly do this, possibly do it now 224 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: you think, oh, be dismissive and whatever. He's just saying it. 225 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 1: Why say it now? That was really actually, at this point, 226 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: Robes no incentive other than his own piece, in the 227 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 1: family's piece. This wasn't going to get him out. 228 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 2: Of anything exactly, and that made it all the more 229 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 2: sincere because especially when you think about what had happened 230 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 2: over those three decades behind bars. 231 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 3: Because at that sentencing hearing you were talking about. 232 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 2: Mirtha Busband, who is the widow of Danny Parrish, said 233 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 2: when the judge offered him a moment to speak before 234 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 2: he sentenced him, he turned around. 235 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 3: According to Mirtha Busband. 236 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 2: Smiled at her and winked, and she said that was 237 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:28,200 Speaker 2: the moment where she said, I will fight every day 238 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 2: to make sure that his sentence is carried through and 239 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 2: I will be there at his execution so to have 240 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 2: the final words be what they were, what an absolute 241 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 2: one point eighty from where he was sentencing to where 242 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 2: he was last night before his death. 243 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 1: And everybody listening right now, I'm trying to pusse it together. 244 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: Where were you in nineteen ninety one and what were 245 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: you doing? Folks? Think about that really, as we're talking here, 246 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: think about where you were in nineteen ninety one. Who 247 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: was president of the United States? This Clinton was running 248 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: at that time. Right, he was elected in ninety two. Right, 249 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:03,199 Speaker 1: I was in junior high school or something that I 250 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: have to. 251 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 3: Say that I graduated from high school. That was my 252 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 3: year of graduation, nineteen ninety one. 253 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 1: But we've lived a whole lifetime. And folks, from the 254 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: time Robes you were in high school, the time I 255 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: was in junior high school to today, a family has 256 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 1: been fighting for justice for this moment that is, that's 257 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: the family is being let down and by more than 258 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 1: just this criminal. That you should not have to wait 259 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: thirty five years to understand the legal process and what 260 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 1: has to happen. Bah blah blah. I want to get righted. 261 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: But man, that is a lot for a family to 262 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: go through. But folks, we're talking about his final words here, 263 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: and you might roll your eyes. Okay, he's saying it now, 264 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,320 Speaker 1: but don't take it from us, Take it from the 265 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 1: widow of curse's victim, the officer his shot. Yes, his 266 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:57,199 Speaker 1: wife was in the room. We'll tell you what she 267 00:13:57,800 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: had to say and how she reacted. To the fun 268 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 1: words from this killer. We continue on this Wednesday, March 269 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 1: firtha for March fourth, not first March fourth. Waking up 270 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: here the morning after last night, Florida executed its third 271 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: inmate of the year, third and three weeks. Curse is 272 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: the name Javon Billy Leon Curse. Why so many of 273 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: these guys have three names? Billy Leon Curse. We talk 274 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: about it. Well, we'll get into that at some point, 275 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: but it's just an odd thing. The death row in 276 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: maates off and that three names, Billy Ray. 277 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 2: This to the point where if I hear someone introduce 278 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 2: themselves with three names, I think, are you a serial killer? 279 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 3: Because that is what ends up happening. 280 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: Why is that John Wayne Gacy? 281 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 2: Why do we have I believe they do it to 282 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 2: make sure that no one else who might have that 283 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 2: first and last name are associated with a killer, a 284 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 2: convicted killer. So I do I I do believe that 285 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 2: they deliberately put up the three names to specify who 286 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 2: that person is in case someone else might have their. 287 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 3: Name as well. 288 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 1: And I thought it was a timing thing that so 289 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: many of the guys who are on death row, it 290 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 1: takes them thirty forty years that they are from a 291 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: generation where guys did have three names. They're older guys. 292 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: Theres anybody naming their kid that stuff these days? You 293 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: know anybody under twenty with three names? 294 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 2: Right? 295 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 3: No, I don't know most people's middle names. In fact, 296 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 3: you don't even have one. 297 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: I don't have that one. 298 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 2: That's how I knew you would never be okay, Yeah. 299 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: But it was just that's just an odd thing, right, 300 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: Billy Leon Curse is the name. Last night, we talked 301 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: about his final words, and you read them and it 302 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:46,239 Speaker 1: sounds maybe come off as sincere to some well deserved 303 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: or maybe even sounds like the authentic in terms of 304 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 1: him coming around. Others will hear others will hear it 305 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: roll their eyes. This is a cop killer, a cop 306 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: killer who got what he deserved last night. So we're 307 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 1: on the outside and we can have our debate about 308 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: his final words. But ropes. I'll listen to his widow. 309 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: I will listen to the widow of the officer. 310 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 3: Kip Mirtha Buzman is her name. 311 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 2: And they were, you know, like childhood sweethearts, had this 312 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 2: beautiful relationship. We're ten years into their marriage, about to 313 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 2: try to have a baby before he went off to war, 314 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 2: and she gave a press conference last night, or she 315 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 2: spoke in front of reporters after the execution. 316 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 3: It was an emotional press conference. I actually got choked. 317 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 2: Up listening to her, and I got choked up, not 318 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 2: necessarily because of the tragedy, which of course is horrific, 319 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 2: but to hear her peace, and it was palpable. She said, 320 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 2: we didn't win anything tonight. We basically lost another life. 321 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 2: But she went on to say, I do find peace 322 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 2: and that mister Kirs did apologize this evening prior to 323 00:16:57,680 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 2: his departure, and that. 324 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 3: Made me feel at peace that I can forgive him 325 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 3: and move on. 326 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 2: And that makes me emotional because in all the articles 327 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 2: leading up to last night, you could hear her anger 328 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:17,360 Speaker 2: jumping off of the screen as I was reading all 329 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 2: of her comments over the years, her frustrations, her fight 330 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 2: to see this day where he was actually executed for 331 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:29,360 Speaker 2: murdering her husband, and the fight daily. She's a victim's 332 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 2: advocate at the same sheriff's department where her husband worked. 333 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,199 Speaker 2: This has been such a part of her life, so 334 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:40,120 Speaker 2: to see her find peace through his words was remarkable. 335 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: You know, we gave her a gift at the end 336 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: that he will never know that she appreciated. And this 337 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,159 Speaker 1: is I can't remember the particular case at the end 338 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 1: of last year, but this is one of those things 339 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: where there was another young man out there right now 340 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 1: who he's not a young man, grown man, who's he 341 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: was a child when his mother was killed. I think 342 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: it was at the convenience store. We're not gonna remember 343 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: the whole case, but Robes, he was fighting to keep 344 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,160 Speaker 1: that man from being executed. He was fighting to keep 345 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: him alive. He was fighting to go meet with him 346 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 1: because Robes he didn't have answers. He had started up 347 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: a conversation via letters, you know, they had gone back 348 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: and forth, but he never got to meet him. He 349 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 1: never got to get answers from him and a conversation 350 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,400 Speaker 1: from him. He is missing a piece that he begged for, 351 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 1: he begged the state for that this woman seems to 352 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 1: have gotten. And it tells the juxtapos those there's a 353 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: guy who will forever have this hole in his heart 354 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: of these questions that he wanted from that person. And 355 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: now this woman has something at the Endbes that's a gift. 356 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 2: And look, I'm not advocating one way or another here 357 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:55,120 Speaker 2: in this but it might have taken mister Kears those 358 00:18:55,160 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 2: thirty five years to be able to give her that. 359 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: That Okay, it came when it came, is I think 360 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: it came in the exact moment. Could he have done 361 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:07,920 Speaker 1: that a week ago, a day ago, a month ago, 362 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 1: a year ago. Did it not come to him into 363 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:14,160 Speaker 1: this exact final moment? Who knows? Who knows? Maybe that's 364 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: what it took. But yeah, there's always something And again 365 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: I'm just I'm kind of dragging on this. Just it's 366 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 1: just heavy robes when we go through this exercise of executions. 367 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: But yes, maybe something beautiful came out of this one. 368 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: There will be more executions, of course, and roges. It's 369 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,640 Speaker 1: boringt to know we started the year with what seventeen 370 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: eighteen planned executions. That list will get Oh yes, and 371 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 1: because Desanta's you put any death warton in front of him, 372 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: he'll sign it. 373 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 2: You know, he's trying to chip away. I know that 374 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 2: sounds awful to put it that way. 375 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 3: At the I. 376 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,880 Speaker 2: Believe more than two hundred and fifty inmates on death row, 377 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 2: and these recent executions that we've seen coming out of Florida, 378 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 2: we're talking thirty forty years in the making, so it's 379 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 2: understandable that he is trying to get and I use 380 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 2: this word justice because that is what the families use, 381 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,359 Speaker 2: that is what our government used for these families. But 382 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:09,880 Speaker 2: he's already signed two more executions to happen later this month, 383 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 2: and I saw somewhere this puts it into perspective. We 384 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 2: talked about how there were nineteen executions last year, with 385 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 2: if you actually just keep accumulating them, Florida is on 386 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:22,959 Speaker 2: track for twenty five executions in just thirteen months. 387 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 3: That's where we are. That is fairly significant. 388 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,679 Speaker 2: And this, by the way, was the fifth execution for 389 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 2: the year for this country already, and more. 390 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,440 Speaker 1: To come next week. I believe two next week scheduled, 391 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 1: one in Texas, one in Alabama, and then after that 392 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: Florida has got two more on the books for this 393 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 1: month alone. Folks will keep an eye on these. Every 394 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: single one is different robes, every single one of these cases. 395 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: Some cases where there's evidence that needs to be reconsidered, 396 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 1: there's mental capacity of some of them need to be considered, 397 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 1: and then you have some like this where there is 398 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 1: no question of the crime, there's no question of guilt 399 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,159 Speaker 1: or innocence and we just go through the exercise, but 400 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 1: something positive came out of it. Who knows if he 401 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: was on in jail the rest of his life, would 402 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 1: that have ever come. I don't know. 403 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, we won't ever know. 404 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 2: But I do find that there are lessons in all 405 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 2: of these executions, either in the stories that preceded them, 406 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:22,639 Speaker 2: the families that have had to live with the grief. 407 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 2: I always find something to take away from these stories 408 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 2: about life and about what matters and what's important and 409 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 2: without everyone, thank you for listening to us. 410 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 3: We always appreciate you. I'm Amy Roeback alongside TJ. Holmes. 411 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:38,679 Speaker 2: We will have Morning Run coming up in just a 412 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,439 Speaker 2: few so look for that as well as many more 413 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 2: updates throughout the day. Thank you for all always for 414 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 2: listening to us.