The wheels of justice grind slowly...
October 13th, 2009
Thanks to all of you who continue to contact us wanting to know if there is any news in Cathy's case. Unfortunately, there has been nothing to report for almost a year now.
We're still waiting for Judge Wisser to make a decision. We hope to hear something by the end of the year, and we'll announce any news on this site as soon as we hear anything.
In the meantime, Cathy still sits on death row. We've been visiting her and witnessing how the wait is wearing her down. Your letters of support are a big help.
One request from Cathy: If you write to her, please include your full name and address. She has received some letters signed simply "Sister Kate" or "Father John" and she is unable to respond unless you provide your full name.
We're all hoping for a good decision from Judge Wisser as soon as possible.
A letter from Cathy
May 28th, 2009
While there is still no decision from Judge Wisser about Cathy's case, Cathy has sent a letter she would like to share with everyone who has been supporting her.
You can read the full text of Cathy's letter here.
We will, of course, let you know as soon as we have any further word about her case.
In the meantime, feel free to write to Cathy using the address on the right. Your letters mean a lot to her.
Latest word
March 9th, 2009
The latest word in Cathy's case is we're still waiting for word.
Earlier this year, Judge Wisser heard testimony from expert witnesses from both sides. This was a chance for the trial judge to hear for himself the evidence about traumatic injuries which last year, when presented to an appellate court, lead to the staying of Cathy's execution. We will let you know as soon as there is any more news about Cathy's case.
Please note: We've been having on-going problems with our email server. If you sent an email to us in the past six or eight weeks, it may have gone missing. We've fixed the problems now. Our apologies if your email has been left unanswered. Please use the Contact Us link on the left to send us email.
News at last!
November 17th 2008
Finally, we have some news to report on Cathy's case.
Today, in Austin, Judge Wisser heard evidence from one of Cathy's expert witnesses. According to one of Cathy's close friends who was in the courtroom, the expert spoke clearly, plainly and explained the evidence beautifully.
This is the first of a series of evidentiary hearings that will occur between now and January. At each of the hearings, Judge Wisser will hear live testimony to fill out the scientific reports already submitted to him.
There'll be no jury for these hearings, just the judge. Cathy's witnesses will testify first, then the State will call opposing witnesses. It's possible Cathy's lawyers will then call on some of its witnesses to give rebuttal testimony.
Also today, Sister Helen Prejean visited Cathy on death row in Gatesville prison and found her in very good spirits. Cathy is relieved and pleased to know that her expert witnesses are having their chance to present their testimony live.
Cathy sends her best wishes to all those who continue to support her.
Supporting Cathy
October 14th 2008
We've been receiving a lot of email from people asking how they can support Cathy while her case is sitting in an apparent limbo.
She always welcomes letters (see her address on the right). It's important that you do not enclose any items other than the letter itself.
She is also struggling financially. Prisoners in Texas have to buy almost everything for themselves, from aspirin to shampoo.
If you'd like to communicate with Cathy or kick in to her inmate trust fund, read her latest letter. You should also read the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's information about sending money to inmates (to which she refers in her letter).
All quiet
September 10th 2008
We continue to have nothing new to report on Cathy's case. This is good news, in at least one way, because it means that Cathy is alive and kicking. On the other hand, it means she's still on death row with no certain future. Until we hear something from the original trial judge, that's where things will remain. We'll update the site the minute we receive any news.
In the meantime, you can always write to Cathy to show her your support, using the address on the right. If you send her a letter, feel free to enclose a photograph, but don't enclose anything else.
News from Cathy
April 10th 2008
Cathy writes in her latest letter that her mother passed away, her youngest daughter is on the verge of finishing high school and there's been no movement with her case. Click the image below to read the whole letter.
We don't know why these is such a delay with her case. By now, we were expecting to have a decision from Judge Wisser, as there has been ample time for the prosecution to build its response to the testimony of Cathy's expert witnesses.
As always, we will let you know as soon as we receive word.
Still waiting...
February 1st 2008
We haven't updated the site in a couple of months. That's because we're still waiting for progress on Cathy's case. The prosecution had until the end of last year to gather information from expert witnesses. Cathy's lawyers are now pushing for a hearing with Judge Wisser to move things forward.
Sister Helen Prejean and Rose Vines from the Death Penalty Discourse Network visited Cathy in mid-January. Apart from problems with her health, she is in good spirits. Being out of segregation means that she can do work for two hours each day, something she really enjoys.
We'll let you know as soon as there's news.
Update and letter from Cathy
November 28th 2007
Cathy's case is still awaiting a return to the district court where she originally stood trial. The prosecution has been given time to gather information from expert witnesses. In the meantime, Cathy has been moved out of segregation and back into the main death row population.
She recently sent a letter to her family, friends and supporters. You can read the full text here. It not only contains news about how Cathy is doing, but also gives a little insight into life on women's death row in Texas.
Update from Sister Helen
I visited Cathy on September 29th and had one of our best visits ever. She has moved to the work tier and now will be able to get out of her cell two hours a day, and go to the workroom, where she will get to do one of her favorite things: crochet an afghan. Cathy loves needlework and has missed it terribly over the past several years. She also will be able now to get one hour of exercise in the yard ("I need sunshine," she says, "look at how white and anemic I look.") She is also permitted to watch two hours of television. She's very happy about these changes in her situation. (She's happy to be ALIVE.)
Legally, George Cumming, point man of our excellent lawyer team, says that we're waiting until the end of October to see what the formal response of the state will be to the Court of Criminal Appeals' June 11 decision to mandate further hearings. When Cathy's legal team gets their response, they will respond. Sometime in November or, perhaps, December, the hearing will take place in the courtroom where the original trial was held.
Big question: Will the prosecution demand a new trial or not?
Along with Cathy, we pray and wait. As soon as we receive the date of the hearing, we'll make it known so as many of you as possible can attend the hearing to show support for Cathy.
Thank you for all your prayers and loving support for Cathy. She continues to receive 10-15 letters and cards a day. No words can express what that loving support means to her, who came within two days of being killed by the state of Texas. Keep those cards and letters coming. Cathy lives! And that is a miracle.
Letter from Cathy
September 23rd 2007
Dear Family and friends,
Hello, it's me again. I just wanted to write and let you know that I won't be going to court this September like I had originally believed.
Sister Helen was kind enough to contact one of my lawyers and they gave their "guestimate" date to be around the end of November.
It's a relief and a disappointment. It's a relief because I had been stressing over it. A disappointment because it's just more of that hurry and wait stuff that grates on your nerves.
I've asked to be put back on the work program. That will help alleviate some of my anxiousness. I'm excited to get back to my crocheting. I started a beautiful afghan for one of the officers that I'd like to finish.
When a death row offender goes from a status of not working to a working status it takes a little while to get approval. Even though I was approved to go back to work from the Warden and Lt. here on the unit, I still have to wait until the unit gets approval from headquarters which is in Huntsville.
If I get approved from there I will get two hours of rec. and I will get the option of going inside the dayroom to watch TV or going outside to walk the yard. I will also be able to visit inside the non-contact area and not inside a cage. I guess that doesn't sound like a whole lot of privileges but when you are locked up in a cell 23/7 it starts to work on your mental stability. Lord, being under a death sentence is enough.
My daughter, Jennifer, is back at school and doing well. I hope and pray it stays that way. My senior year was a lot of fun but I took a lot of electives. So, I got out at noon because of the DECA program. Jennifer hasn't done that which sort of surprised me. She took a full load. I just hope she finds some time to enjoy her last year there.
Oh yes, my biggest news: If all goes well I will get to visit with Sister Helen the 26th of this months. It's always so refreshing to my soul to get a visit with her. Don't know how she does it but she is always able to put me in the best of moods. Even when I'm feeling down and negative. The only explanation I've been able to come up with is that she is anointed by God.
I have lots of fun plans for her and hope that she has the time to have a little fun while she's here. Her calendar makes me tired just looking at it. Of all people she deserves an evening out for dinner amongst friends and family. Continue to keep her in your prayers. That all her endless days of work will bear fruit in the near future. That she will be successful in her quest for the abolition of the death penalty.
I'd also like to ask that you pray for my middle daughter Amber and her precious family. They are going through some difficulties right now as every young couple does. Also, that you continue your prayers for my best friend Karen Burns Dailey. She is nearing the end of her chemo treatments which have zapped her energy and zest for life. She has always been my strength and encouragement when I felt I couldn't go on. I miss her and her Pollyanna self. Now, she has to go through six weeks of radiation five days a week. The drive alone is enough for a healthy person to just want to lay down and say forget it. So, please keep her in your daily prayers. I pray that the radiation doesn't affect her nearly as bad as the chemo did. I also pray that she will never have to go through these treatments ever again. That she remains in remission for the rest of her life. Cancer is a terrible thing. It ravages the best of people's bodies and minds. I watched my father-in-law die of cancer and it was horrible. He went from 190 pounds to about 98 pounds. He was a good Christian man with a heart bigger than Texas. I miss him, as I know his wife and sons do. I wish we could find a complete cure for cancer so no-one would have to go through its agonies any longer.
Okay, I guess that's about all I have to report for today. I want you to know that just thinking about you and how you have taken me under your wing and are praying fervently for me makes me happy. Thanks for being there for me even when we can't be together. My thoughts, my heart, and my love are with you.
In God's unconditional love,
Cathy
IN MEMORIAM: FRED LIST
It is with deep sadness that we report the death of Fred List, one of Cathy
Henderson's staunchest supporters and friends.
On March 13, when Fred and his wife Kathy were showing someone on Cathy's case the way back to the highway from their home, they crossed through some low water flowing over the bridge at Berry Creek. The car stalled and the water rose. During the rescue Fred was carried away and drowned. Kathy was rescued.
For the past six years Fred has been tireless in his efforts to save Cathy from execution and from death row. Anyone who has met Fred will know Cathy could have had no more determined and thorough an ally. We'll all miss his passion and commitment, his impish humor, and time spent with Fred and Kathy together at the Donkey Ranch.
Our sympathy and thoughts are with Kathy and all Fred's family.
You can read Fred's obituary here. Note that his family has asked that in lieu of flowers, people send clemency letters for Cathy Henderson.
