S6 Ep10: The Fire That Condemned Cameron Todd Willingham

From Crimes of the Centuries by Amber Hunt and Audioboom

May 4, 2026 · 1h 1m · Season 6 · Episode 10

About this episode

This episode explores the controversial case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was convicted of arson and murder based on questionable evidence.

In 1991, investigators of a house fire in Corsicana, Texas, concluded the fatal blaze was arson, pointing to burn patterns they said proved someone had deliberately turned the house into a death trap. They zeroed in on Cameron Todd Willingham as the one who ignited the inferno. But in the years that followed, a growing number of fire scientists began questioning whether the evidence used to convict him was ever sound in the first place, raising enduring doubts about one of the most controversial death penalty cases in modern Texas history. Crimes of the Centuries is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.com Order the Crimes of the Centuries book at your favorite bookstore or at www.centuriespod.com/book ! Follow us on Instagram and other social media: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Quince. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/CENTURIES . Home Chef. Get 50% off your first box, free shipping, and free dessert for life at HomeChef.com/COTC . ButcherBox. Get free sirloin tips, ground beef, or chicken wings for life…