ernest willis has spent almost two decades on texas death row for murder by arson. 18 years ago, the house he was staying in with friends caught fire. killing two women. since the beginning, willis has maintained his innocence. in the years since his conviction, he has seen appeal after appeal be denied. he has also come dangerously close to execution. at one time, i come within two days of being executed. i had an execution date. after so many years, you just kind of almost lose hope, you know? yet, science could still be willis salvation. in the decade following the verdict, dramatic advances in the fire investigation field have been made. a fire investigation had nothing to do with science for a long time. and until the early 90s, they really didn t have much science. they had rules of thumb, old wives tales. the national fire protection association went public with its first edition of standards for
ernest willis has spent almost two decades on texas s death row for murder by arson. 18 years ago, the house he was staying in with friends caught fire. killing two women. since the beginning, willis has maintained his innocence. in the years since his conviction, he has seen appeal after appeal be denied. he has also come dangerously close to execution. at one time, i come within two days of being executed. i had an execution date. after so many years, you just kind of almost lose hope, you know? yet, science could still be willis salvation. in the decade following the verdict, dramatic advances in the fire investigation field have been made. a fire investigation had nothing to do with science for a long time. and until the early 90s, they