March 4, 2026 • 21 mins
Last night, 53 year old Billy Leon Kearse apologized to his victim’s family moments before he died by lethal injection. Kearse was just 18-years-old when he shot 29 year old officer Danny Parrish more than a dozen times after a traffic stop. Parrish’s widow has waited 35 years for justice and was there at Kearse’s execution to hear his final words.
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
Hey there, folks. It is Wednesday, March fourth, and at
six twenty four pm last night, a man was declared
dead thirty five years after he was convicted of killing
a police officer. And after thirty five years, the family
of that officer heard something from him they had not
(00:33):
heard in the past thirty five years. I'm sorry, and
with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Robes.
Words matter. This came late, This came at the last
possible moment. But we don't see this often in the
final words of death row inmates, and it seems to
have had an impact.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
This one brought tears to my eyes to hear the
suffering of a widow for more than three decades and
to be fighting for justice in her husband's honor. To
finally find peace through those words I'm sorry. It's remarkable
and it's a lesson for everybody. I was so moved
(01:14):
hearing this exchange and seeing the result of it. Yes,
a lot of people have differing opinions on the death
penalty and on executions, and this is beyond that, because
this is about not only apologizing, but about forgiveness.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
You know, this is also about quite frankly, Rob it's
just more death. I understand, what does justice look like
for this family, for anybody else, I don't know. Well, Robes,
it's it's tough to have a moment where there's celebration
or a celebration of justice even or even seeing a
penalty actually gone through with by the state of Florida.
(01:53):
Here but Robes, you just sink once again to where
and this and we'll get into her exact words. But
this suggestion question that anybody is celebrating when we went
through the ceremony, is what it feels like sometimes of
formally executing somebody, this is never a night or a
moment worth celebrating.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
It feels yeah. I had a thought, Yes, I agree
with that certainly.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
And there were both sides, people who were probe death
penalty saying it's about time Billy Leon Curse was executed.
And then there's always the other side that is fighting
for life, the right to live.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
And you know what we complain about.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
And I understand not as a victim of crime or
as somebody who has lost someone to crime or to
a criminal act.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
But maybe it.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Took those thirty five years on death row in prison
for him to come to the realization to be able
to give.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
This widow some peace. Maybe he needed all of that
time of reflection.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
My point being a lot of folks who advocate against
the death penalty say, if you give the life in
prison without possible building a parole, as that being the
ultimate punishment, you do give the opportunity for people to
come around to recognize the cruelty of their past actions
and to give perhaps families peace through written word, through
(03:15):
at least some way to.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Say I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
It might take these folks that long, and it was
a gift to give that to this family.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
At those moments are few and far between as we know.
But if it worked out in this case, that is fine.
But folks, this is Florida carrying out what is his
third execution of the year. It's his third in three
weeks actually, and we mentioned Florida of course, always relevant
because of what happened last year. They set a new
record for themselves, double their previous record. They had nineteen
(03:44):
executions last year, leading the way in this country. But
last night executing Billy Leon Curse. He got a three
drug cocktail which was the lethal injection and declared dead
at six twenty four pm again, the crime was back
in nineteen ninety one, but roads was interesting. I thought
this was great. The person he killed was a police officer,
(04:04):
and here we are thirty five years later. Some of
those officers who served with him showed up, along with
family members, along with the ex wife. Yes, they excuse me,
I say, ex wife, she's not what they were married
at the time.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Yes, yes, but no, they said.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
More than a dozen people filled that witness chamber to
witness this execution, and it was filled with people who
knew and loved the victim in this case, Danny Parrish.
He was twenty nine years old at the time of
his killing. And to see, yes, those fellow officers and
family members of his gather around to witness this final
(04:39):
act of justice.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And justice we that look, we're not we'll tell you
what happened, not going to get into what justice looks like.
And again what we always say, ropes defer to the
family members if they I always I would advocate for
that that our legal system should ask the family do
you want them to be executed? To not let them
make the call. But in this particular case, the family
(05:03):
stayed with this case and kept an eye on it
all these years and still showed up. We'll tell you
that yesterday and this struck me as well. And your
heart is not my heart goes out and you robes.
I will always feel bad about death. Right, This is
not necessarily sympathy necessary for this man who created, who
(05:25):
did this heinous crime, Billy Leon Curse Ropes on his
final day, his final moment at the end of his life.
It's a fifty five year old man. I think I
have the age right, fifty five to fifty three.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
I think he's, yes, fifty three years old. I believe, yes, fifty.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Three years old. His last day on earth, he got
one visitor, Robes and it wasn't a family member even
something about that, and this whole ceremony just feels just
feels icky, the death family in this country.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, he was eighteen years old at the time of
this crime. Again not excusing what he did, but he
was eighteen and he is right on the borderline for IQ.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
So that was part of the argument as he I believe.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Seventeen appeals throughout the years trying to vacate this death
penalty sentence. But there were arguments that yes he was eighteen,
and yes he was mentally challenged. But he had his
spiritual advisor come visit him on the day of his
execution on yesterday, and yes, that was his only visitor.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
It's lonely, that's wrong, that's I mean, just life. We
always talk about life and whose life life life. There
was a life that was lost last night. There was
a life that he took. Yes, all of that. It's
actually all horrible. It's actually all horrible. I am not
making any defense for this guy and what he went
through in his background and some people. That's not the argument.
It's just it's something very heavy about us going through
(06:47):
this ceremony of executing somebody, and this man on his
last day didn't have a family member, didn't didn't have
anybody show up that cared about him, essentially outside of
his spiritual advisor. But again, all these people that showed
up and they did care about this officer, this officer
who I mean, I can't remember right now the death
toll from Operation Desert's dorm. But this officer was an
(07:09):
Army sergeant who was months away from being deployed to
a war zone. But he gets killed here mean that
it's just this whole thing.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I don't now and when you hear about the crime
that he pulled over Kres who was driving, I believe
the opposite way. So he pulls him over, a danger
to himself and to anyone else who was on the
road at that time. And when he didn't provide a
driver's license, he said, you need to get out of
the car, you know, put your hands.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
He is going to arrest him.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
And according to the police documents, apparently Kers claims that
the handcuffs that he was using accidentally hit him in
the eye and he.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Turned around and said, what's going on man? And then
when he did.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
That, he said he saw Officer Paris reach for his gun,
and so he grabbed the gun and just started shooting
more than a dozen times. I believe he shot him
thirty ten times. And Danny Parrish was wearing a bulletproof vest,
but he still managed. I read this chilling account, and
this was from Kars saying that Danny Perrish begged for
(08:12):
his life at the end. Please don't do it, man,
please don't do it. And he did it anyway, and
that was curious. Admitting that that is how it went down.
That is chilling, that is heinous, that is horrific.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And this is not a crime. But this is not
a case where anyone's making an argument about guilt or innocence.
This is not that We have seen some of those
cases in the past, and even some sentences changed. We've
seen people in historically in this country who've actually been
taken off death row when new evidence came. This is
not that case. So people who are arguing on his behalf,
(08:46):
where essentially we're arguing against just the death penalty in general,
not necessarily arguing for his innocence. Now, we always mention
this robes that usually start right at six o'clock. Doctor
comes in, shade goes back, audience sitting there watching audience
seems like a weird thing to say, but yes, there
are people there gathered to watch this. They come in,
(09:06):
they give them the cocktail. It does take about twenty
five minutes, so six twenty four is when he was
declared dead. This robes, unlike some we've seen, he didn't
seem to react that much after being given the drugs.
From what we see, sometimes we see some adverse reactions,
if you will, This one didn't seem like much happened
after he was given the dosage.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Yes, the reports from the journalists who were in the
room just said he twitched a couple of times, which
is fairly standard, and that he then just went to sleep.
And so as in terms of executions, this was about
as peaceful as they get.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
So, yes, that went to plan. It's always ropes fascinating.
Two things with death row inmates. We ask about the
final meal, and we ask about the final words and
the final as you mentioned here, final meal. There's nothing
to report there. They actually say he refused, declined to
have a final meal. There was somewhere in the past
two or three we did cover someone else did that
(10:02):
stomach was just we said, how can you eat?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Honestly, I'm fairly certain I think we all, maybe anecdotally
talk about, oh what would your final meal be be?
I've thought about it and thought to myself, I don't
think I could eat because when I'm stressed, or I'm upset,
or I'm nervous or any of the above.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
I cannot eat.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
So I can't imagine having a big old last meal,
thinking whoo, this is it?
Speaker 3 (10:24):
So that actually makes perfect sense.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
And we know some do. We've seen some incredible meals before.
But he refused a last meal. But then the last
words Robes, several of them. There's some risks refuse, some
say no, some say I'm on my way as quick.
He had a.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Message, he certainly did, and it packed a punch in
terms of the impact it had on the family. We'll
get into that because that is perhaps the beautiful part
of this story. But here's his final words were this
to his family, I sincerely apologize for what I've done.
There is no way I can repay that. With this death,
(11:03):
it will never repay that. And in turn, I pray
my father give me strength to ask their forgiveness so
I can go on my journey. All I can do
is ask for their forgiveness, to give you peace and resolve.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Look reading on paper that comes off a certain way.
We weren't in there. Don't know how it came across
in Robes. If he could, why now don't know. Because
he had plenty of opportunities rose because after he was convicted,
after he was sentenced to death, that was appealed and
he won and had a resentencing hearing, he had opportunities
(11:38):
to pour his heart out in this way that maybe
could have saved him from the death penalty. There were
other times to possibly do this, possibly do it now
you think, oh, be dismissive and whatever. He's just saying it.
Why say it now? That was really actually, at this point,
Robes no incentive other than his own piece, in the
family's piece. This wasn't going to get him out.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Of anything exactly, and that made it all the more
sincere because especially when you think about what had happened
over those three decades behind bars.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Because at that sentencing hearing you were talking about.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Mirtha Busband, who is the widow of Danny Parrish, said
when the judge offered him a moment to speak before
he sentenced him, he turned around.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
According to Mirtha Busband.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Smiled at her and winked, and she said that was
the moment where she said, I will fight every day
to make sure that his sentence is carried through and
I will be there at his execution so to have
the final words be what they were, what an absolute
one point eighty from where he was sentencing to where
he was last night before his death.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
And everybody listening right now, I'm trying to pusse it together.
Where were you in nineteen ninety one and what were
you doing? Folks? Think about that really, as we're talking here,
think about where you were in nineteen ninety one. Who
was president of the United States? This Clinton was running
at that time. Right, he was elected in ninety two. Right,
I was in junior high school or something that I
(13:03):
have to.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Say that I graduated from high school. That was my
year of graduation, nineteen ninety one.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
But we've lived a whole lifetime. And folks, from the
time Robes you were in high school, the time I
was in junior high school to today, a family has
been fighting for justice for this moment that is, that's
the family is being let down and by more than
(13:30):
just this criminal. That you should not have to wait
thirty five years to understand the legal process and what
has to happen. Bah blah blah. I want to get righted.
But man, that is a lot for a family to
go through. But folks, we're talking about his final words here,
and you might roll your eyes. Okay, he's saying it now,
but don't take it from us, Take it from the
widow of curse's victim, the officer his shot. Yes, his
(13:53):
wife was in the room. We'll tell you what she
had to say and how she reacted. To the fun
words from this killer. We continue on this Wednesday, March
(14:13):
firtha for March fourth, not first March fourth. Waking up
here the morning after last night, Florida executed its third
inmate of the year, third and three weeks. Curse is
the name Javon Billy Leon Curse. Why so many of
these guys have three names? Billy Leon Curse. We talk
(14:34):
about it. Well, we'll get into that at some point,
but it's just an odd thing. The death row in
maates off and that three names, Billy Ray.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
This to the point where if I hear someone introduce
themselves with three names, I think, are you a serial killer?
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Because that is what ends up happening.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Why is that John Wayne Gacy?
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Why do we have I believe they do it to
make sure that no one else who might have that
first and last name are associated with a killer, a
convicted killer. So I do I I do believe that
they deliberately put up the three names to specify who
that person is in case someone else might have their.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Name as well.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
And I thought it was a timing thing that so
many of the guys who are on death row, it
takes them thirty forty years that they are from a
generation where guys did have three names. They're older guys.
Theres anybody naming their kid that stuff these days? You
know anybody under twenty with three names?
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Right?
Speaker 3 (15:25):
No, I don't know most people's middle names. In fact,
you don't even have one.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
I don't have that one.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
That's how I knew you would never be okay, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
But it was just that's just an odd thing, right,
Billy Leon Curse is the name. Last night, we talked
about his final words, and you read them and it
sounds maybe come off as sincere to some well deserved
or maybe even sounds like the authentic in terms of
him coming around. Others will hear others will hear it
roll their eyes. This is a cop killer, a cop
(15:55):
killer who got what he deserved last night. So we're
on the outside and we can have our debate about
his final words. But ropes. I'll listen to his widow.
I will listen to the widow of the officer.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Kip Mirtha Buzman is her name.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
And they were, you know, like childhood sweethearts, had this
beautiful relationship. We're ten years into their marriage, about to
try to have a baby before he went off to war,
and she gave a press conference last night, or she
spoke in front of reporters after the execution.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
It was an emotional press conference. I actually got choked.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Up listening to her, and I got choked up, not
necessarily because of the tragedy, which of course is horrific,
but to hear her peace, and it was palpable. She said,
we didn't win anything tonight. We basically lost another life.
But she went on to say, I do find peace
(16:53):
and that mister Kirs did apologize this evening prior to
his departure, and that.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Made me feel at peace that I can forgive him
and move on.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
And that makes me emotional because in all the articles
leading up to last night, you could hear her anger
jumping off of the screen as I was reading all
of her comments over the years, her frustrations, her fight
to see this day where he was actually executed for
murdering her husband, and the fight daily. She's a victim's
(17:29):
advocate at the same sheriff's department where her husband worked.
This has been such a part of her life, so
to see her find peace through his words was remarkable.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
You know, we gave her a gift at the end
that he will never know that she appreciated. And this
is I can't remember the particular case at the end
of last year, but this is one of those things
where there was another young man out there right now
who he's not a young man, grown man, who's he
was a child when his mother was killed. I think
(18:02):
it was at the convenience store. We're not gonna remember
the whole case, but Robes, he was fighting to keep
that man from being executed. He was fighting to keep
him alive. He was fighting to go meet with him
because Robes he didn't have answers. He had started up
a conversation via letters, you know, they had gone back
and forth, but he never got to meet him. He
never got to get answers from him and a conversation
(18:24):
from him. He is missing a piece that he begged for,
he begged the state for that this woman seems to
have gotten. And it tells the juxtapos those there's a
guy who will forever have this hole in his heart
of these questions that he wanted from that person. And
now this woman has something at the Endbes that's a gift.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
And look, I'm not advocating one way or another here
in this but it might have taken mister Kears those
thirty five years to be able to give her that.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
That Okay, it came when it came, is I think
it came in the exact moment. Could he have done
that a week ago, a day ago, a month ago,
a year ago. Did it not come to him into
this exact final moment? Who knows? Who knows? Maybe that's
what it took. But yeah, there's always something And again
I'm just I'm kind of dragging on this. Just it's
just heavy robes when we go through this exercise of executions.
(19:25):
But yes, maybe something beautiful came out of this one.
There will be more executions, of course, and roges. It's
boringt to know we started the year with what seventeen
eighteen planned executions. That list will get Oh yes, and
because Desanta's you put any death warton in front of him,
he'll sign it.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
You know, he's trying to chip away. I know that
sounds awful to put it that way.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
At the I.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Believe more than two hundred and fifty inmates on death row,
and these recent executions that we've seen coming out of Florida,
we're talking thirty forty years in the making, so it's
understandable that he is trying to get and I use
this word justice because that is what the families use,
that is what our government used for these families. But
he's already signed two more executions to happen later this month,
(20:10):
and I saw somewhere this puts it into perspective. We
talked about how there were nineteen executions last year, with
if you actually just keep accumulating them, Florida is on
track for twenty five executions in just thirteen months.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
That's where we are. That is fairly significant.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
And this, by the way, was the fifth execution for
the year for this country already, and more.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
To come next week. I believe two next week scheduled,
one in Texas, one in Alabama, and then after that
Florida has got two more on the books for this
month alone. Folks will keep an eye on these. Every
single one is different robes, every single one of these cases.
Some cases where there's evidence that needs to be reconsidered,
(20:52):
there's mental capacity of some of them need to be considered,
and then you have some like this where there is
no question of the crime, there's no question of guilt
or innocence and we just go through the exercise, but
something positive came out of it. Who knows if he
was on in jail the rest of his life, would
that have ever come. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Yeah, we won't ever know.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
But I do find that there are lessons in all
of these executions, either in the stories that preceded them,
the families that have had to live with the grief.
I always find something to take away from these stories
about life and about what matters and what's important and
without everyone, thank you for listening to us.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
We always appreciate you. I'm Amy Roeback alongside TJ. Holmes.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
We will have Morning Run coming up in just a
few so look for that as well as many more
updates throughout the day. Thank you for all always for
listening to us.
Hey there, folks. It is Wednesday, March fourth, and at
six twenty four pm last night, a man was declared
dead thirty five years after he was convicted of killing
a police officer. And after thirty five years, the family
of that officer heard something from him they had not
(00:33):
heard in the past thirty five years. I'm sorry, and
with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Robes.
Words matter. This came late, This came at the last
possible moment. But we don't see this often in the
final words of death row inmates, and it seems to
have had an impact.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
This one brought tears to my eyes to hear the
suffering of a widow for more than three decades and
to be fighting for justice in her husband's honor. To
finally find peace through those words I'm sorry. It's remarkable
and it's a lesson for everybody. I was so moved
(01:14):
hearing this exchange and seeing the result of it. Yes,
a lot of people have differing opinions on the death
penalty and on executions, and this is beyond that, because
this is about not only apologizing, but about forgiveness.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
You know, this is also about quite frankly, Rob it's
just more death. I understand, what does justice look like
for this family, for anybody else, I don't know. Well, Robes,
it's it's tough to have a moment where there's celebration
or a celebration of justice even or even seeing a
penalty actually gone through with by the state of Florida.
(01:53):
Here but Robes, you just sink once again to where
and this and we'll get into her exact words. But
this suggestion question that anybody is celebrating when we went
through the ceremony, is what it feels like sometimes of
formally executing somebody, this is never a night or a
moment worth celebrating.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
It feels yeah. I had a thought, Yes, I agree
with that certainly.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
And there were both sides, people who were probe death
penalty saying it's about time Billy Leon Curse was executed.
And then there's always the other side that is fighting
for life, the right to live.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
And you know what we complain about.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
And I understand not as a victim of crime or
as somebody who has lost someone to crime or to
a criminal act.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
But maybe it.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Took those thirty five years on death row in prison
for him to come to the realization to be able
to give.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
This widow some peace. Maybe he needed all of that
time of reflection.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
My point being a lot of folks who advocate against
the death penalty say, if you give the life in
prison without possible building a parole, as that being the
ultimate punishment, you do give the opportunity for people to
come around to recognize the cruelty of their past actions
and to give perhaps families peace through written word, through
(03:15):
at least some way to.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Say I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
It might take these folks that long, and it was
a gift to give that to this family.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
At those moments are few and far between as we know.
But if it worked out in this case, that is fine.
But folks, this is Florida carrying out what is his
third execution of the year. It's his third in three
weeks actually, and we mentioned Florida of course, always relevant
because of what happened last year. They set a new
record for themselves, double their previous record. They had nineteen
(03:44):
executions last year, leading the way in this country. But
last night executing Billy Leon Curse. He got a three
drug cocktail which was the lethal injection and declared dead
at six twenty four pm again, the crime was back
in nineteen ninety one, but roads was interesting. I thought
this was great. The person he killed was a police officer,
(04:04):
and here we are thirty five years later. Some of
those officers who served with him showed up, along with
family members, along with the ex wife. Yes, they excuse me,
I say, ex wife, she's not what they were married
at the time.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Yes, yes, but no, they said.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
More than a dozen people filled that witness chamber to
witness this execution, and it was filled with people who
knew and loved the victim in this case, Danny Parrish.
He was twenty nine years old at the time of
his killing. And to see, yes, those fellow officers and
family members of his gather around to witness this final
(04:39):
act of justice.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And justice we that look, we're not we'll tell you
what happened, not going to get into what justice looks like.
And again what we always say, ropes defer to the
family members if they I always I would advocate for
that that our legal system should ask the family do
you want them to be executed? To not let them
make the call. But in this particular case, the family
(05:03):
stayed with this case and kept an eye on it
all these years and still showed up. We'll tell you
that yesterday and this struck me as well. And your
heart is not my heart goes out and you robes.
I will always feel bad about death. Right, This is
not necessarily sympathy necessary for this man who created, who
(05:25):
did this heinous crime, Billy Leon Curse Ropes on his
final day, his final moment at the end of his life.
It's a fifty five year old man. I think I
have the age right, fifty five to fifty three.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
I think he's, yes, fifty three years old. I believe, yes, fifty.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Three years old. His last day on earth, he got
one visitor, Robes and it wasn't a family member even
something about that, and this whole ceremony just feels just
feels icky, the death family in this country.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, he was eighteen years old at the time of
this crime. Again not excusing what he did, but he
was eighteen and he is right on the borderline for IQ.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
So that was part of the argument as he I believe.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Seventeen appeals throughout the years trying to vacate this death
penalty sentence. But there were arguments that yes he was eighteen,
and yes he was mentally challenged. But he had his
spiritual advisor come visit him on the day of his
execution on yesterday, and yes, that was his only visitor.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
It's lonely, that's wrong, that's I mean, just life. We
always talk about life and whose life life life. There
was a life that was lost last night. There was
a life that he took. Yes, all of that. It's
actually all horrible. It's actually all horrible. I am not
making any defense for this guy and what he went
through in his background and some people. That's not the argument.
It's just it's something very heavy about us going through
(06:47):
this ceremony of executing somebody, and this man on his
last day didn't have a family member, didn't didn't have
anybody show up that cared about him, essentially outside of
his spiritual advisor. But again, all these people that showed
up and they did care about this officer, this officer
who I mean, I can't remember right now the death
toll from Operation Desert's dorm. But this officer was an
(07:09):
Army sergeant who was months away from being deployed to
a war zone. But he gets killed here mean that
it's just this whole thing.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I don't now and when you hear about the crime
that he pulled over Kres who was driving, I believe
the opposite way. So he pulls him over, a danger
to himself and to anyone else who was on the
road at that time. And when he didn't provide a
driver's license, he said, you need to get out of
the car, you know, put your hands.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
He is going to arrest him.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
And according to the police documents, apparently Kers claims that
the handcuffs that he was using accidentally hit him in
the eye and he.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Turned around and said, what's going on man? And then
when he did.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
That, he said he saw Officer Paris reach for his gun,
and so he grabbed the gun and just started shooting
more than a dozen times. I believe he shot him
thirty ten times. And Danny Parrish was wearing a bulletproof vest,
but he still managed. I read this chilling account, and
this was from Kars saying that Danny Perrish begged for
(08:12):
his life at the end. Please don't do it, man,
please don't do it. And he did it anyway, and
that was curious. Admitting that that is how it went down.
That is chilling, that is heinous, that is horrific.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And this is not a crime. But this is not
a case where anyone's making an argument about guilt or innocence.
This is not that We have seen some of those
cases in the past, and even some sentences changed. We've
seen people in historically in this country who've actually been
taken off death row when new evidence came. This is
not that case. So people who are arguing on his behalf,
(08:46):
where essentially we're arguing against just the death penalty in general,
not necessarily arguing for his innocence. Now, we always mention
this robes that usually start right at six o'clock. Doctor
comes in, shade goes back, audience sitting there watching audience
seems like a weird thing to say, but yes, there
are people there gathered to watch this. They come in,
(09:06):
they give them the cocktail. It does take about twenty
five minutes, so six twenty four is when he was
declared dead. This robes, unlike some we've seen, he didn't
seem to react that much after being given the drugs.
From what we see, sometimes we see some adverse reactions,
if you will, This one didn't seem like much happened
after he was given the dosage.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Yes, the reports from the journalists who were in the
room just said he twitched a couple of times, which
is fairly standard, and that he then just went to sleep.
And so as in terms of executions, this was about
as peaceful as they get.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
So, yes, that went to plan. It's always ropes fascinating.
Two things with death row inmates. We ask about the
final meal, and we ask about the final words and
the final as you mentioned here, final meal. There's nothing
to report there. They actually say he refused, declined to
have a final meal. There was somewhere in the past
two or three we did cover someone else did that
(10:02):
stomach was just we said, how can you eat?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Honestly, I'm fairly certain I think we all, maybe anecdotally
talk about, oh what would your final meal be be?
I've thought about it and thought to myself, I don't
think I could eat because when I'm stressed, or I'm upset,
or I'm nervous or any of the above.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
I cannot eat.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
So I can't imagine having a big old last meal,
thinking whoo, this is it?
Speaker 3 (10:24):
So that actually makes perfect sense.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
And we know some do. We've seen some incredible meals before.
But he refused a last meal. But then the last
words Robes, several of them. There's some risks refuse, some
say no, some say I'm on my way as quick.
He had a.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Message, he certainly did, and it packed a punch in
terms of the impact it had on the family. We'll
get into that because that is perhaps the beautiful part
of this story. But here's his final words were this
to his family, I sincerely apologize for what I've done.
There is no way I can repay that. With this death,
(11:03):
it will never repay that. And in turn, I pray
my father give me strength to ask their forgiveness so
I can go on my journey. All I can do
is ask for their forgiveness, to give you peace and resolve.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Look reading on paper that comes off a certain way.
We weren't in there. Don't know how it came across
in Robes. If he could, why now don't know. Because
he had plenty of opportunities rose because after he was convicted,
after he was sentenced to death, that was appealed and
he won and had a resentencing hearing, he had opportunities
(11:38):
to pour his heart out in this way that maybe
could have saved him from the death penalty. There were
other times to possibly do this, possibly do it now
you think, oh, be dismissive and whatever. He's just saying it.
Why say it now? That was really actually, at this point,
Robes no incentive other than his own piece, in the
family's piece. This wasn't going to get him out.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Of anything exactly, and that made it all the more
sincere because especially when you think about what had happened
over those three decades behind bars.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Because at that sentencing hearing you were talking about.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Mirtha Busband, who is the widow of Danny Parrish, said
when the judge offered him a moment to speak before
he sentenced him, he turned around.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
According to Mirtha Busband.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Smiled at her and winked, and she said that was
the moment where she said, I will fight every day
to make sure that his sentence is carried through and
I will be there at his execution so to have
the final words be what they were, what an absolute
one point eighty from where he was sentencing to where
he was last night before his death.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
And everybody listening right now, I'm trying to pusse it together.
Where were you in nineteen ninety one and what were
you doing? Folks? Think about that really, as we're talking here,
think about where you were in nineteen ninety one. Who
was president of the United States? This Clinton was running
at that time. Right, he was elected in ninety two. Right,
I was in junior high school or something that I
(13:03):
have to.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Say that I graduated from high school. That was my
year of graduation, nineteen ninety one.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
But we've lived a whole lifetime. And folks, from the
time Robes you were in high school, the time I
was in junior high school to today, a family has
been fighting for justice for this moment that is, that's
the family is being let down and by more than
(13:30):
just this criminal. That you should not have to wait
thirty five years to understand the legal process and what
has to happen. Bah blah blah. I want to get righted.
But man, that is a lot for a family to
go through. But folks, we're talking about his final words here,
and you might roll your eyes. Okay, he's saying it now,
but don't take it from us, Take it from the
widow of curse's victim, the officer his shot. Yes, his
(13:53):
wife was in the room. We'll tell you what she
had to say and how she reacted. To the fun
words from this killer. We continue on this Wednesday, March
(14:13):
firtha for March fourth, not first March fourth. Waking up
here the morning after last night, Florida executed its third
inmate of the year, third and three weeks. Curse is
the name Javon Billy Leon Curse. Why so many of
these guys have three names? Billy Leon Curse. We talk
(14:34):
about it. Well, we'll get into that at some point,
but it's just an odd thing. The death row in
maates off and that three names, Billy Ray.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
This to the point where if I hear someone introduce
themselves with three names, I think, are you a serial killer?
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Because that is what ends up happening.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Why is that John Wayne Gacy?
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Why do we have I believe they do it to
make sure that no one else who might have that
first and last name are associated with a killer, a
convicted killer. So I do I I do believe that
they deliberately put up the three names to specify who
that person is in case someone else might have their.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Name as well.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
And I thought it was a timing thing that so
many of the guys who are on death row, it
takes them thirty forty years that they are from a
generation where guys did have three names. They're older guys.
Theres anybody naming their kid that stuff these days? You
know anybody under twenty with three names?
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Right?
Speaker 3 (15:25):
No, I don't know most people's middle names. In fact,
you don't even have one.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
I don't have that one.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
That's how I knew you would never be okay, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
But it was just that's just an odd thing, right,
Billy Leon Curse is the name. Last night, we talked
about his final words, and you read them and it
sounds maybe come off as sincere to some well deserved
or maybe even sounds like the authentic in terms of
him coming around. Others will hear others will hear it
roll their eyes. This is a cop killer, a cop
(15:55):
killer who got what he deserved last night. So we're
on the outside and we can have our debate about
his final words. But ropes. I'll listen to his widow.
I will listen to the widow of the officer.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Kip Mirtha Buzman is her name.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
And they were, you know, like childhood sweethearts, had this
beautiful relationship. We're ten years into their marriage, about to
try to have a baby before he went off to war,
and she gave a press conference last night, or she
spoke in front of reporters after the execution.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
It was an emotional press conference. I actually got choked.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Up listening to her, and I got choked up, not
necessarily because of the tragedy, which of course is horrific,
but to hear her peace, and it was palpable. She said,
we didn't win anything tonight. We basically lost another life.
But she went on to say, I do find peace
(16:53):
and that mister Kirs did apologize this evening prior to
his departure, and that.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Made me feel at peace that I can forgive him
and move on.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
And that makes me emotional because in all the articles
leading up to last night, you could hear her anger
jumping off of the screen as I was reading all
of her comments over the years, her frustrations, her fight
to see this day where he was actually executed for
murdering her husband, and the fight daily. She's a victim's
(17:29):
advocate at the same sheriff's department where her husband worked.
This has been such a part of her life, so
to see her find peace through his words was remarkable.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
You know, we gave her a gift at the end
that he will never know that she appreciated. And this
is I can't remember the particular case at the end
of last year, but this is one of those things
where there was another young man out there right now
who he's not a young man, grown man, who's he
was a child when his mother was killed. I think
(18:02):
it was at the convenience store. We're not gonna remember
the whole case, but Robes, he was fighting to keep
that man from being executed. He was fighting to keep
him alive. He was fighting to go meet with him
because Robes he didn't have answers. He had started up
a conversation via letters, you know, they had gone back
and forth, but he never got to meet him. He
never got to get answers from him and a conversation
(18:24):
from him. He is missing a piece that he begged for,
he begged the state for that this woman seems to
have gotten. And it tells the juxtapos those there's a
guy who will forever have this hole in his heart
of these questions that he wanted from that person. And
now this woman has something at the Endbes that's a gift.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
And look, I'm not advocating one way or another here
in this but it might have taken mister Kears those
thirty five years to be able to give her that.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
That Okay, it came when it came, is I think
it came in the exact moment. Could he have done
that a week ago, a day ago, a month ago,
a year ago. Did it not come to him into
this exact final moment? Who knows? Who knows? Maybe that's
what it took. But yeah, there's always something And again
I'm just I'm kind of dragging on this. Just it's
just heavy robes when we go through this exercise of executions.
(19:25):
But yes, maybe something beautiful came out of this one.
There will be more executions, of course, and roges. It's
boringt to know we started the year with what seventeen
eighteen planned executions. That list will get Oh yes, and
because Desanta's you put any death warton in front of him,
he'll sign it.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
You know, he's trying to chip away. I know that
sounds awful to put it that way.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
At the I.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Believe more than two hundred and fifty inmates on death row,
and these recent executions that we've seen coming out of Florida,
we're talking thirty forty years in the making, so it's
understandable that he is trying to get and I use
this word justice because that is what the families use,
that is what our government used for these families. But
he's already signed two more executions to happen later this month,
(20:10):
and I saw somewhere this puts it into perspective. We
talked about how there were nineteen executions last year, with
if you actually just keep accumulating them, Florida is on
track for twenty five executions in just thirteen months.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
That's where we are. That is fairly significant.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
And this, by the way, was the fifth execution for
the year for this country already, and more.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
To come next week. I believe two next week scheduled,
one in Texas, one in Alabama, and then after that
Florida has got two more on the books for this
month alone. Folks will keep an eye on these. Every
single one is different robes, every single one of these cases.
Some cases where there's evidence that needs to be reconsidered,
(20:52):
there's mental capacity of some of them need to be considered,
and then you have some like this where there is
no question of the crime, there's no question of guilt
or innocence and we just go through the exercise, but
something positive came out of it. Who knows if he
was on in jail the rest of his life, would
that have ever come. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Yeah, we won't ever know.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
But I do find that there are lessons in all
of these executions, either in the stories that preceded them,
the families that have had to live with the grief.
I always find something to take away from these stories
about life and about what matters and what's important and
without everyone, thank you for listening to us.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
We always appreciate you. I'm Amy Roeback alongside TJ. Holmes.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
We will have Morning Run coming up in just a
few so look for that as well as many more
updates throughout the day. Thank you for all always for
listening to us.
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