The Book of the Dead

Chapter 86: Execution of an Innocent Man-The Murders of Narnie Bryson and Sister Tadea Benz


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"I’d like to thank my family for loving me and taking care of me. And the rest of the world can kiss my ass.”

After the murder nun in Amarillo, Texas, police are convinced they found their killer. Johnny Frank Garrett was tried, sentenced, and executed for the murder of Sister Tadea Benz, but this case is not as straightforward as it seems. From the misconduct of a medical examiner, calls for clemency from Pope John Paul II, omitted evidence, and a second murder that police knew was tied to Sister Tadea's, this is a case where nothing is as it seems. The murders of two women were a rabbit hole that concluded with the realization that Johnny Frank Garrett was executed for a crime he probably didn't commit. This is the story that inspired a movie and three people who were victims of a killer and the justice system.

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Actual Innocence: Johnny Frank Garrett and Bubbles The Clairvoyant. (n.d.). http://www.skepticaljuror.com/2010/04/fine-folks-of-amarillo-wanted-justice.htmlAmarillo youth, 17, arrested in rape-slaying of Catholic nun. (n.d.). Amarillo Daily News, 1a–3a. http://www.thelastworddocumentary.com/upfiles/l59.pdfAmnesty International. (n.d.). EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AMR 51/04/92 [Report]. https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/amr510041992en.pdfAssociated Press. (1992, February 12). TEXAS EXECUTES KILLER OF A NUN. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/12/us/texas-executes-killer-of-a-nun.htmlBates, C. (1981, November 5). Slaying evidence goes to D.C. Amarillo Daily News. http://www.bloodshedbooks.com/upfiles/l64.pdfBrown, C. (2019, March 7). Pathologist Accused of Falsifying Autopsies, Botching Trial Evidence : Forensics: His recent indictment on charges of falsifying reports and having sloppy habits has attorneys scrambling to pinpoint any wrongful convictions. - Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-12-mn-286-story.htmlCarrillo, K. J., & Carrillo, K. J. (2023, August 9). The Mariel Boatlift: How Cold War politics drove thousands of Cubans to Florida in 1980. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/news/mariel-boatlift-castro-carter-cold-warComplaint No. 26861-C. (2004). In bloodshedbooks.com (APD 1981-00015340). Amarillo Police Department. http://www.bloodshedbooks.com/upfiles/l30.pdfCooper, L. (2014, August 2). Clear the name of a man who was killed on death row for a crime he didn’t commit.Change.org. https://www.change.org/p/rep-louie-gohmert-clear-the-name-of-a-man-who-was-killed-on-death-row-for-a-crime-he-didn-t-commitFuqua, L. M. (2021, December 12). A convent nun murdered on Halloween — True crime - true crime addiction - medium. Medium. https://medium.com/true-crime-addiction/a-convent-nun-murdered-on-halloween-true-crime-938b61d3afbfGarrett’s Death Row Letters. (n.d.). http://www.bloodshedbooks.com/tour.php?category=Garrett%27s+Death+Row+Letters#Goldfarb, K. (2018, April 26). Was Johnny Frank Garrett a sadistic Nun-Killer or an innocent man put to death?All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/johnny-frank-garrettJEAN PAGEL ASSOCIATED PRESS. (n.d.). BODIES RETURN TO HAUNT HIM. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1995/rt9506/950610/06120062.htmJohnny Frank Garrett, Petitioner-appellant, v. James A. Lynaugh, Director, Texas Department of Corrections,respondent- Appellee, 842 F.2d 113 (5th Cir. 1988). (n.d.). Justia Law. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/842/113/295588/Kfda. (2011, November 1). Halloween murder resurrected 30 years later. https://www.newschannel10.com. https://www.newschannel10.com/story/15894338/halloween-murder-reserected-30-years-later/Man pleads guilty, sentenced to 45 years for 1981 slaying. (2003, January 3). My Plainview. https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Man-pleads-guilty-sentenced-to-45-years-for-1981-8547291.phpStatement by Bishops of Texas on the death Penalty, January 1992. (n.d.). USCCB. https://www.usccb.org/resources/statement-bishops-texas-death-penalty-january-1992Supreme Court, U. S., EFREN MEDINA, ARIZONA, MILLER, S. A., KINT, B., COZEN O’CONNOR, SCHECK, B. C., FABRICANT, M. C., MORENO, P., & INNOCENCE NETWORK, INC. (2011). BRIEF OF THE INNOCENCE NETWORK AS AMICUS CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF PETITIONER. In Supreme Court of Arizona. https://name.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/5924f3c5-1ed5-4aa0-9a99-9ef731452684.pdfTron, G. (2023, December 21). What was Johnny Frank Garrett more afraid of than being executed for Nun’s rape and murder? Oxygen Official Site. https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/what-drove-johnny-frank-garrett-to-rape-murder-nun-in-1981Wayback machine. (n.d.). https://web.archive.org/web/20040119004115/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/statistics/deathrow/executed/garrett.jpgWeeks, D. (n.d.). Profile of a killer: Person in turmoil. The Amarillo Globe.
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The Book of the DeadBy Courtney Liso

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