PODCAST · society
Death Row Stories
by François Picard
Welcome to Death Row Stories, a podcast dedicated to exploring the complex and often harrowing world of the death penalty in the United States. I’m François Picard, a journalist and documentary director with over 20 years of experience. Throughout my career, the most impactful reports I produced were those about death row. In this podcast, I shed light on the human stories behind the death penalty, offering firsthand accounts and in-depth analysis. Join me as we uncover the realities behind these 2 words.Discover our stories on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Death-Row-Stories
Episodes
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Jamaal Howard: Executed Without Understanding Why
Did Texas just execute a man who never fully understood why he was being put to death?In this episode of Death Row Stories, I travel to Huntsville, Texas, to witness the execution of Jamaal Howard, a man whose attorneys argued was intellectually disabled and suffered from severe mental illness.As...
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The Story Behind Christa Gail Pike's Failed Execution
Christa Gail Pike was supposed to be executed on September 30, 2026. Instead, Tennessee suspended executions once again. What happened behind the closed curtains of Tennessee's execution chamber? And how did the state find itself confronting yet another crisis in its death penalty system? In this...
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I Went to the Texas Town Where Norman and Ramey Killed 3 People
I traveled to Edna, Texas, to better understand the story behind the case that led to the executions of Norman and Ramey. After covering their executions for Death Row Stories, I wanted to see where the events unfolded and learn how the crimes affected the community that lived through them.But...
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His Lawyer Was a Dentist. Texas Executed Ker'Sean Ramey Anyway.
His lawyer was a full-time dentist with no experience handling death penalty cases.Yet Texas sentenced Ker'Sean Ramey to death, and twenty years later, the state carried out his execution.In this episode of Death Row Stories, I travel to the Texas prison where Ker'Sean Ramey was executed and...
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His Children Watched Him Die. The Execution of LeJames Norman
On September 16, 2026, the State of Texas executed LeJames Norman, who was sentenced to death for his role in a 2005 robbery that ended in the murders of three people. In this episode of Death Row Stories, I travel to Huntsville, Texas, to witness the execution and document the final hours before...
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He Had 11 Execution Dates. Now, He's a Life Coach.
Thomas Miller-El was sentenced to death in Texas and faced execution 11 times. After spending years on Death Row, he was eventually given a life sentence. But instead of simply trying to survive prison, Thomas found a new purpose: helping other inmates change their lives. Today, he is a life…
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35 Years on Death Row. He Still Says He’s Innocent.
For 35 years, Eugene Broxton has lived in a tiny death row cell in Texas. He insists he did not commit the murder that sent him there. He says he has maintained his innocence from the very first police interrogation until today.In this exclusive interview, Eugene tells his story in his own words...
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I Visited Europe’s Execution Sites to Understand America’s Death Penalty
What do medieval witch hunts, public guillotines, and America's death penalty have in common? More than you might think.In this episode of Death Row Stories, I leave the United States and travel across France in search of places where people were once executed.The death penalty did not originate…
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Texas 600th Execution: Inside the Fight Over Intellectual Disability Part - 2
On May 14 2026, Death Row Stories takes you inside a race against time as Texas prepares for what could become its 600th execution since 1976. From an early morning abolitionist press conference to a long, uncertain wait outside the prison, everything now depends on one question: will the…
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Texas' 600th Execution: Inside the Fight Over Intellectual Disability
Texas is about to carry out its 600th execution since 1976. But this case is different.Edward Lee Busby Jr is scheduled to die for a brutal 2004 murder in Fort Worth. What he did was horrific. A 77-year-old woman, Laura Lee Crane, was taken at random from a grocery store parking lot and killed.…
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Outside James Broadnax’s Execution, as Doubt Hung Over It
At the gates of the Huntsville Unit, I witnessed one of the most controversial executions in recent Texas history. James Broadnax was put to death as serious doubts still surrounded his case, after his cousin Demarius Cummings recently claimed he was the actual gunman.In this episode of Death Row...
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Secrets of Lethal Injections EXPOSED
What really happens when the state kills someone?In this shocking episode of Death Row Stories, I sit down with Corinna Barrett Lain, author of Secrets of the Killing State, to expose the dark, hidden world of lethal injection, botched executions, and the secret systems behind the death penalty…
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They Executed a 21-Year-Old Who Couldn't Understand His Trial
In 1913, a 21-year-old man was executed in Texas after a trial he could not understand. This episode of Death Row Stories investigates one of the most disturbing and little-known cases in the history of the death penalty in Texas. Abram Ortiz was a young Mexican laborer working in South Texas.…
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28 Hanged in the Square:America's Forgotten Mass Execution
In 1847, a United States–appointed governor was killed in his own home. He was shot with arrows and scalped in front of his family. What followed was one of the earliest mass executions carried out by American authorities.In this episode of Death Row Stories, I speak with Bob Romero, former...
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30 Brain Lesions, Multiple Sclerosis, On Death Row… and Smiling (with names withdrawed)
What happens when a single decision changes everything?In this episode of Death Row Stories, Tyrone Williams speaks from inside Texas death row — not to explain a crime, but to reflect on the choices that can define a life forever.From refusing a plea deal to believing he acted to protect his...
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He ran all his life... And escaped from Death Row
From a stolen Secret Service briefcase at age 16… to a desperate escape from Texas Death Row… Charles Thompson spent his entire life running.In this exclusive, unfiltered interview filmed inside the Polunsky Unit, Charles reveals the wild path that led from drugs and fugitives to one of the most...
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The Prisoner Who Became a Voice for Death Row
Once lost to addiction and violence, David Collingsworth spent years behind bars in Texas.Today, he’s free — and his voice echoes inside the same prisons where he once lived.Through The Prison Show, a unique radio program broadcast across Texas prisons for over 45 years, David now connects…
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🎙️ The Singer Who Lost Everything to a Lie
What happens when a rising singer is accused of a crime he didn’t commit—based only on lies? In this gripping episode of Death Row Stories, Perry Cobb takes us through his extraordinary life: from performing in Chicago nightclubs to being falsely accused of double murder. With no evidence against...
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Death Row Through a Sociologist’s Eyes
What happens when a sociologist steps into the execution chamber—not just as a researcher, but as someone chosen to witness a man’s final moments?In this powerful episode, Dr. Sandra Joy shares her unique and deeply human perspective on the U.S. death penalty. A sociology professor at Rowan...
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On Death Row Since 2016: What the Jury Wasn’t Told
🔎 Who decides who lives—and who dies?In this new episode of Death Row Stories, we dive into the case of Demond Depree Bluntson, a Texas man incarcerated since 2012 and sentenced to death in 2016.His story spans years of legal twists, personal contradictions, and unanswered questions. In May…
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Sent to Death Row on Junk Science — Can a Law Save Them?
Can discredited forensic science send innocent people to death row?Texas was the first state to pass a law—known as the Junk Science Law (Article 11.073)—giving prisoners a chance to challenge their convictions when the science used against them has since been debunked. But more than a decade...
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He Escaped Death Row—Then Stopped Another Execution
Anthony Graves spent 18 years behind bars—12 of them on death row—for a crime he didn’t commit.Wrongfully convicted based on false testimony, Graves endured solitary confinement, relentless pressure to accept a plea deal, and the unimaginable weight of being labeled a murderer. But his story…
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How Texas Sent an Innocent Black Man to Death Row
How Texas Sent an Innocent Black Man to Death Row | Anthony Graves’ Shocking Story Imagine being taken from your home, accused of a brutal crime you didn’t commit, and sentenced to die—all without a shred of evidence. This is the unimaginable reality Anthony Graves faced. In this powerful third...
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"I Was Framed for MURDER!" Anthony Graves' Story
"I Was Framed for MURDER!" In this gripping second part of the tenth episode of Death Row Stories, Anthony Graves shares the nightmare of being wrongfully convicted of a brutal crime he didn’t commit. Anthony was living a normal life in Brenham, Texas, when Texas Rangers showed up and arrested…
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Falsely Accused: Anthony Graves Speaks Out
In this powerful episode, we begin uncovering the extraordinary life of Anthony Graves, a man who faced unimaginable circumstances after being falsely accused. Arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, Anthony's journey through the justice system will leave you speechless. Anthony is the author of...
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The Woman Who Attended Over 400 Executions
What drives someone to witness over 400 executions? In this ninth episode of Death Row Stories, meet Gloria Rubac, a retired teacher who has spent decades outside the Huntsville Unit on execution days, vocally opposing the practice when lethal injections are carried out. She has become a…
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Perillo's Miracle: Facing Execution and Defying the Odds - Ep 4 (Part 5)
In this unforgettable finale of Pamela Perillo’s story, she opens up about the harrowing reality of life on Death Row. From the looming shadow of execution to the resilience it took to survive, Pamela shares raw, emotional moments that will leave you speechless. What does it feel like to be days...
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The Death Penalty Capital of the World Gets a New DA... Now what?
Harris County, Texas, known as the Death Penalty Capital of the World, just elected a new District Attorney. With Sean Teare taking office, questions arise: Will this shift bring any change to the county’s long-standing approach to capital punishment? In this episode of Death Row Stories, I…
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Crime, Justice, Churches, and Love: The Steven Nelson Case | Death Row Stories Ep 7.
A shocking crime. A divided community. Two churches at odds. This episode delves into the complex case of Steven Nelson, whose death penalty trial became a battleground for fairness, justice, and love. With his execution scheduled for February 5, 2025, this case has resurfaced as a pivotal moment...
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Innocent, but 20 Years on Texas Death Row. Kerry Max Cook speaks out! | Death Row Stories Ep 6.
In this gripping sixth episode, filmed live at the Texas Tribune Festival, we dive deep into the harrowing journey of Kerry Max Cook, a man who spent two decades on Texas Death Row, relentlessly fighting to prove his innocence. Wrongfully convicted at just 21, Kerry endured decades of trauma,...
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Perillo's UNBELIEVABLE Decision That kept her on Death Row | Death Row Stories Ep. 4 (Part 4)
In Part 4 of our in-depth interview with Pamela Perillo, we delve further into the harrowing realities of life on death row and the moral challenges Pamela faced. After being sentenced to death for her role in two murders, Pamela recounts emotional exchanges with the victims' families, moments of...
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Why Would I Be Conservative, Texan, and Against the Death Penalty? | Death Row Stories Ep. 5
Howdy! Isn’t the death penalty the ultimate symbol of Texan strength and justice? Some conservatives are starting to think differently. In this episode, Nan Tolson, a lifelong Texan and director of Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty, explains why she and others from her conservative...
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Perillo’s Shocking Confession: The Moment Everything Changed | Death Row Stories Ep. 4 (Part 3)
In this gripping third part of Episode 4 of Death Row Stories, we follow Pamela Perillo as her life spirals in unexpected ways. After fleeing California, she finds herself in Houston, where events take a dark and dangerous turn. This episode captures her shocking confessions, intense…
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Perillo’s Journey, Escaping California’s Addiction-Fueled Chaos | Death Row Stories Ep. 4 (Part 2)
In the fourth episode of Death Row Stories, Pamela Perillo recounts her tumultuous journey from Southern California to Texas. After a difficult youth in Linwood, California, marred by abuse and addiction (as covered in Part 1), Pamela continues her raw and heartfelt storytelling, revealing the...
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Pamela Perillo’s Unforgettable Journey of Survival | Death Row Stories Ep. 4 (Part 1)
In this first part of the 4th episode of Death Row Stories, we begin an emotional and gripping journey with Pamela Perillo, a woman whose life has been marked by unimaginable hardships, including severe abuse and addiction. From a tumultuous childhood to life-changing events, Pamela’s story, as...
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At Texas Tribune Festival, Richard Linklater Reveals His Role in Stopping the 'Baking' of Prisoners. Ep. 3
Join acclaimed filmmaker Richard Linklater at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on September 7, 2024, as he uncovers the devastating reality of Texas prisons. Linklater's personal involvement in a groundbreaking lawsuit against the 'baking' of prisoners’ organs in un-air-conditioned cells is...
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Outside the Walls: Voices of Protest at a Texas Execution
As the state of Texas prepared to execute Ramiro Gonzales on June 26, 2024, we took a journey to Huntsville to explore who gathers outside the prison walls during these moments—and why. In this episode of Death Row Stories, we bring you the voices of those who stood outside the Texas State...
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Video: Texas: Racial Bias in the Death Penalty Capital of the World
Join me in Houston as I interview Estelle Hebron-Jones from the Texas Defender Service, a leading organization in the fight to end the death penalty since 1995. In this insightful discussion, we delve into Estelle's 2024 report, "Arbitrary and Capricious: Examining Racial Disparities in Harris...
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Texas: Racial Bias in the Death Penalty Capital of the World
Join me in Houston as I interview Estelle Hebron-Jones from the Texas Defender Service, a leading organization in the fight to end the death penalty since 1995. In this insightful discussion, we delve into Estelle's 2024 report, "Arbitrary and Capricious: Examining Racial Disparities in Harris...
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Welcome to Death Row Stories !
Welcome to the inaugural episode of my podcast and YouTube channel! I'm François Picard, a journalist and documentary director with over 20 years of experience filming stories around the world for various news media. Throughout my career, I have covered many significant events, but the most...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Death Row Stories, a podcast dedicated to exploring the complex and often harrowing world of the death penalty in the United States. I’m François Picard, a journalist and documentary director with over 20 years of experience. Throughout my career, the most impactful reports I produced were those about death row. In this podcast, I shed light on the human stories behind the death penalty, offering firsthand accounts and in-depth analysis. Join me as we uncover the realities behind these 2 words.Discover our stories on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Death-Row-Stories
HOSTED BY
François Picard
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Death Row Stories have?
Death Row Stories currently has 40 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Death Row Stories about?
Welcome to Death Row Stories, a podcast dedicated to exploring the complex and often harrowing world of the death penalty in the United States. I’m François Picard, a journalist and documentary director with over 20 years of experience. Throughout my career, the most impactful reports I produced...
How often does Death Row Stories release new episodes?
Death Row Stories has 40 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Death Row Stories?
You can listen to Death Row Stories on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Death Row Stories?
Death Row Stories is created and hosted by François Picard.
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