In 2005, Jesse Quackenbush, attorney for Johnny Garrett, attended our Anti-Death Penalty Lobby Day and spoke to a rally on the South Steps of the Texas Capitol about how Garrett was an innocent man executed by Texas. Now, Quackenbush has directed a documentary on Garrett’s case. Below is the trailer for the film.
Director: Jesse Quackenbush
Producer: Cinco Rosas
Screenwriter: Jesse Quackenbush
Cinematography: Jesse Quackenbush
Editor: Kyle High
Music: Peter Davison
Cast: Narrated by:Tom Kane
Country: USA
Running Time: 90 minutes
Synopsis:
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 as a recipe for executing the innocent. A death penalty obsessed District Attorney and his lap-dog Medical Examiner, ladder climbing cops, bloodthirsty media, enraged and fearful jurors, incompetent defense lawyers, politicized judges, witch-hunting religious zealots and an ironfisted Governor with national ambitions meld together as perfect ingredients for a plate of government sponsored murder.
In Garrett’s final statement he professed his innocence one last time but did so in a voice driven by hate and vengeance. In his chilling conclusion Garrett promised those responsible for his murder that someday he would have the last word and they would pay for what they had done. For most of Garrett’s enemies “someday” happened long ago.
Regardless of faith, for or against the death penalty, liberal or conservative The Last Word compels viewers to feel not only the collective pain our societal conscience suffers for executing the innocent but also the individual fear of not knowing what margins of error our judges, jurors and executioners will find acceptable tomorrow.
Below is Quackenbush speaking in Austin on Lobby Day.
I watched the Last word and it was actually sickening and scary to think that we put the power to take the life of an innoncent person in the hands of sick people.johnny Frank garret could have been my son,your son or relative.Those responsible ,if there are any left should have to face the same fate as johnny garrett.So sorry for the Family Of Johnny.