The Last Word (IV) (2008)

This documentary takes the "Innocent Man on Texas Death Row" tale to a dark corner feared by all - - proving that an innocent man has been executed by the State. A clash between good and ... See full summary »

Director:

Jesse Quackenbush

Writer:

Jesse Quackenbush

Storyline

This documentary takes the "Innocent Man on Texas Death Row" tale to a dark corner feared by all - - proving that an innocent man has been executed by the State. A clash between good and evil strikes up on the High Plains of Texas when Johnny Frank Garrett, a 17 year old retarded boy is arrested, convicted and ultimately executed for the Halloween night rape, mutilation and murder of Sister Tadea Benz. The 76 year old nun was attacked while she slept in her room at the St. Francis Convent in Amarillo, Texas. Garrett claimed his innocence from the time of his arrest until his dying breath. Sixteen years after Garrett's execution new evidence rose up from the cold case grave of the Amarillo Police Department proving they executed the wrong man! During interviews with key players the case of Johnny Frank Garrett unfolds like a recipe for executing the innocent. A death penalty obsessed District Attorney and his lap-dog medical examiner, ladder climbing cops, bloodthirsty media, enraged ...

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Plot Keywords:

death penalty | texas death row | criminal justice | wrongful execution

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Taglines:

First Documentary in America to establish beyond any doubt that Texas has executed an innocent man.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 2008 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinco Rosas Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Chilling

This movie left me chilled to the bone. I have seen documentaries about wrongful convictions and eyewitness errors but never have I seen such a lynching. The most jaw dropping moment was an interview with the defense attorney who did not present a case and didn't even know that he could have asked for money from the state to do an investigation. He did no investigation. He has a look of sympathy and ignorance and guilt that is shocking. His confession can only be surmised as a request for forgiveness in order to make peace with his soul. The mother recounts the details of the arrest of her son and the fear and disbelief is displayed with a helplessness that is heartbreaking. The boy is 17 and considered "retarded" and a past that would explain severe trauma but not violence. The attorneys, police and the judges seem comfortable to circumvent the law and I am reminded of a line from the Denzel Washington movie, "Hurricane." The Police stopped and told him,"We're looking for two negroes in a white car." Hurricane responded, "Any two will do? The injustice becomes unbelievable and the director effectively invokes a feeling that something evil and unholy is going on. Religion is used as an important theme with the Catholic Church fighting for clemency and religious fanatics hell bent on the electric chair, each one claiming to be in Jesus Camp. Good and evil fighting for the soul and who does God side with?

The injustice and incompetence will have you on the edge of your bed and then you find out that something evil and unholy IS going on. The execution isn't the final blow.