What's in a Number?

Lone Star Law & Disorder

Deborah (Debbie) Fontenot Davenport was a beautiful, spirited, kind-hearted mother of three. There wasn't anyone that didn't love her. Except Willie Mack Modden. Modden took Debbie's life, but he was going to fight for his. The trials and subsequent appeals would be a string of firsts for the state of Texas and for the US. And a land mark US Supreme Court decision to ban the execution of persons with intellectual disabilities would save him only hours before he was set to die by lethal injection. There was no doubt he was guilty, but the question of exactly how guilty is at the heart of the matter. Follow along while I discuss the capital murder trials and appeals of Willie Mack Modden and celebrate the life of Deborah Fontenot Davenport. Sources: www.txexecutions.org/history.asp https://www.tdcj.state.tx.us.death_row/dr_facts.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Texas https://deathpenaltyinfo.org https://deathpenalty.procon.org https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/1986/69442-4.html www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/485/1040 www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/unpub/00/00-40524.0.wpd.pdf Houston Chronicle Lufkin Daily News Music&Sound: Setuniman at www.freesound.org/people/setuniman/ CheesePuff-freesound.org dominictreis-freesound.org tubbers-freesound.org Support the show