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

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