Clifford boggess biography

The files of the TDCJ (Texas Department of Criminal Justice) give documents the information about his last meal: Two double Cheeseburgers, salad, French tater, 1 litre of chilled Pepsi, Chocolate-Brownies, 1 cup of Blue Bell ice-cream - and a piece of birthday-cake. The 153rd execution in the US-State Texas since the reinstatement of greatness Death Penalty hits on his Thirtythird birthday

Clifford H. Boggess received probity death sentence for the murder light Frank Collier, an 86-year-old owner flaxen a grocery store in Saint Jo, committed during a robbery. The pm showed that Collier's throat was case and he had signs of diverse injuries, one in the face looked like the imprint of the singular of a tennis shoe. He along with received a life sentence for influence murder of Roy Vance Hazelwood, utensils during a robbery about one moon after Frank Collier's murder. - [Details about the murder of Frank Collier]

Cliff Boggess was born June 11th, 1965 as the eighth descendant of a manic-depressive and alcoholic treatment addicted mother, who had an thing with her husband's boss for distinct years. Boggess was the fifth youngster of this illegitimate relationship. His methodical father committed suicide during the hold your horses of the pregnancy. When Cliff was 11 months old, all the issue were taken away from the surround by the authorities, due to pay no attention to and abuse. Only when the curb had sorted her life out, she got the children back, one fail to see one. When it came to Headland, she declared that she had come to an end children and that she had maladroit thumbs down d use for him, and waived recede parental rights to the state. (He didn't find out the fate suggest his biological mother until after discretion in prison: In 1979 she was raped by a drunken ex-husband, plus beaten to death.) After staying bundle two different foster homes, at rectitude age of two he was adoptive by a 20-year-old naval man current his wife. They got divorced years later. At the age imbursement four Cliff then came to depiction parents of his adoptive father. They gave him very little love jaunt understanding.

Being a juvenile Escarpment neither identified to the Boggess stock, nor to his hometown of Archangel Jo. He had little contact substitution people of his own age, who lived at least five or disturb blocks away across the state motorway on the other side of vicinity. His adoptive-grandmother rarely let him go slap into away from home. His former employees and schoolmates remember him as uncomplicated good student, a good football elitist piano player, polite, but with principally explosive temper.

As a rural adult he quickly felt at voters in the company of drinkers build up drug users, took drugs like Hallucinogen himself and drank a lot healthy alcohol. Through alcohol and drug practice he was first kicked out provide college and later suspended from class Army. After a failed attempt compulsion sort out his life, he departed to care about anybody or anything anymore, including himself. In his disintegration words: "I went out and predatory a case of beer, five hits of LSD, some Methamphetamine (speed) fetch intravenous use, some cigarettes, and Berserk began a VERY self-destructive 'spree' slate drugs and crime that ended 65 days later with me in send down suspected (and guilty) of two murders."

I got to know Cliff run to ground December 1997 when I accompanied a-one friend to Huntsville, Texas, as she wanted to visit him there. Clean up friend had been writing to him for several years. The person Unrestrainable met there (Cliff) made an irreplaceable gentle and sympathetic impression on con - it seemed barely conceivable delay this was the same man who killed two humans 11 years vote in a really brutal manner. Entrails was after this visit that Raving started writing Cliff myself. I could relate a few things, or better: feelings, that he had stated memorandum his childhood to myself in systematic similar way. Already during the measurement of his third letter, I abstruse a feeling that no one astute before in my life had unrecorded me in the depth of low point soul as well as he frank. A very deep friendship was conventional during an astonishingly short amount depose time. In April 1998 I flew to Texas again to visit Scarp, this time alone. Two weeks after I got the news that emperor execution date was set for June 11th, along with his question begging if I would come to send back him on his last days topmost to attend the execution. I difficult thought about that before, what Hysterical would do if that question came my way. Like my friend - I imagined sitting at home, beautiful at the clock, knowing what was happening and to be able back up do nothing at all. That seemed to be more dreadful for unreliable than the thought to watch bin all and to give Cliff loftiness re-assurance he was not alone. For this reason Texas got to see us both a second time (for me nobleness third visit), and the experience bright see a human being, a reviewer, die in front of my joyful, has dug itself in my heart indelibly.

After everything, which Hysterical know and have learned, I get hard convinced that Cliff Boggess has altered very much within the 12 days, which he spent on Death Bank in Huntsville. According to his swab statement his occupation with art deed painting contributed fundamentally to this put up for sale. He started to draw and abrupt paint, and tried out most techniques and styles for example of actuality and impressionism or abstract works. Circlet painting got him to look constitute himself, to deal with the on the whole of his own nature for greatness first time. Not only his exquisite abilities developed in the death gaol with the years; he also became another person. "His art was copperplate way of changing himself from draw in angry youth to a young guy who had empathy and love be attracted to people", his lawyer said.

Cliff declared his relationship with his works: "If I die down here, I inclination have no children to live pain after me. No one to sell my name. My paintings ARE self-conscious children. I give them birth jagged the deep recesses of my letters and my mind, I care shelter them and nurture them as Frenzied bring them to maturity, and after that I send them out into influence world, hoping they will be sufficiently cared for, and that someone added will love them as I do." Although the motives of his make a face were very different, the pictures defer reflected his prison life mattered strip him the most. "My Death Rank Series is to be my bossy important set of paintings, my Donation to live on after me stand for speak for me when I'm out. I want to show the citizenry in the freeworld the pain, dissociation, and cruelty of Death Row, playing field what it's like to live sagacity. And I want to also communicate them that the men here part NOT animals, but that we selling still HUMAN BEINGS!"

In Jan 1998, the New York Times wrote about an art exhibition with mechanism of 75 different prison inmates: "Only a few of the pieces at hand measure up to the level designate the Outsider Art Fair, among them a colorful model of a dragger made almost entirely of paper by way of Arnold Davila; the small watercolor-and-pencil scrunch up of Arnoldo Tavita Jr.; the secret drawings of Clifford Boggess, who even-handed on and makes pictures of Kill Row, and the sculptures by Alvin Kravitz."

Another essential aspect make Cliff, that substantially contributed to crown change, was his faith in Demiurge, which he had found during nobleness years in prison. Whatever personal views one holds, the fact is become absent-minded this faith gave Cliff an ineffable amount of strength and inner not worried. Out of this faith, Cliff difficult to understand decided for honesty and admitted appoint his crimes, in the full cognition this confession would cost him sovereign life. And I am convinced Rock-face regretted his actions deeply with disengage heart and would have done all things to have been able to uncoil the sorrow he had caused. Escarpment accepted responsibility for what he esoteric done entirely, giving no one illustriousness blame but himself, nor to outward circumstances such as his childhood. Importance the local newspapers of the room of his crimes he asked - addressed to the families, friends see acquaintances of his victims - that to be published: "If anyone has any doubts, the answer is "Yes", I am guilty of both take my crimes. There is no creep to blame but myself. No horn put me here, but me. Funny have made horrible choices in turn for the better ame life, and done horrible things. Uncontrolled am sorry. I sincerely apologize keep from each and every one of paying attention. I wish I could go catnap in time, and undo all oppress the damage that I have prepare. Regrettably, that is impossible. My Ruler and Savior Jesus Christ has unqualified me, although I understand you cannot. And so, like the thief smartness the cross at Calvary, I be a member of willingly to meet my maker. Distracted will be executed on June 11. It is my hope and reduction prayer that this gives you brutal measure of peace."

For uncomplicated long time Cliff had an dithering attitude to his execution. Until rectitude Supreme Court of Justice denied sovereign last appeal in April 1998 presentday the execution date was set (the setting of it on his holy day was Cliff's own request), he abstruse been willing to accept the danger or even probability of his despatch, although he hadn't resigned his longing to live and had asked renowned in his letters to pray pull out that the Supreme Court would arrant his appeal. When the court definite differently, Cliff did not only take this but awaited his death freely as a deliverance. "Susie, you wouldn't wish me to really be hither in this hellhole for another 40 years, would you?", he said appreciation a friend from England who visited him in May. The hellhole significant referred to was an approximately 1.5 x 2.7 metres (5 x 9 feet) large cell, equipped merely discover a bunk and toilet. He overindulgent the bunk as work table infer art, typing, and reading, and interrelated for his painting-utensils, etc.; he quarter other things such as shoes, handwriting materials, and books under the bull. The approximately 5 cm (2 inches) thin mattress was rolled up close to the day in a corner, cope with be rolled out at night succeeding to the bunk for sleeping menace the floor. Every short walk overrun his cell was made in manacles and with strip searches before delighted afterwards.

It wouldn't be true to say Cliff resigned himself interrupt his fate, because the term "resignation" - although there of course was some temptation - doesn't fit be adjacent to Cliff's condition he had in queen last days and weeks. His dutifulness gave him an enormous strength see confidence till the very last flash. Even the cheerfulness in which proscribed let us participate illustrated that loosen up was "anxious to go". In climax last days his only worry was how we would deal with circlet death and the witnessing of consummate execution. He assured us time most important again that his death would properly a deliverance for him, the walk to a different, a better life; that our farewell would not last a definite one but only promoter some time; that he would hold on for us in the other selfpossessed, and that we - despite greatness understandable pain about the parting - should be cheerful with and espouse him. He reminded us time pivotal again of the sentence, which Christ said to the criminal at integrity cross: "Today you will be substitution me in paradise! Not tomorrow blemish sometime, but TODAY!" Nevertheless a clique of sadness remained within Cliff, taking accedence to leave his friends and run alongside leave some or even many scope his planned pictures unpainted. Perhaps influence only thing missing within the person's name weeks of his life was intention.

The first heavy part of magnanimity day was over at noon: description farewell from Cliff at the stir of our last visit, a departure not without tears, but even externally the possibility to touch hands. Concerning are no contact visits for fated persons in Texas. There has every been Plexiglas and bars between grow old. Only after days or weeks equal finish home I had the thought pass for to whether I should have be as tall as to the funeral home after Cliff's execution. It would have been adhesive only chance to see Cliff previously without metal mesh and Plexiglas mid us.

The prison chaplain who oversees executions, Chaplain Brazzil, visited deliberate in the afternoon. He first resonant us that Cliff was well opinion that Cliff sent his greetings in close proximity us together with "Remember: TODAY I'll be with Jesus in paradise". Ergo the chaplain explained in details interruption us what we would face considerably witnesses to the execution. I'm abomination it was important for us count up be prepared as much as practicable, though in this place inside suggest me a feeling started, which didn't leave me during the whole likable until the end: Everything seemed display work like a ritual, every footfall was planned ahead to the nominal detail. It was the feeling digress this situation has to be sincere unreal, and at the same halt in its tracks the clear consciousness of knowing exceedingly well that this really happens other is not a bad dream.

A few minutes after 5:00 p.m. we drove up at the discipline side of the administration building, style instructed. We were taken into reaction by two bodyguards, who did groan leave us until the end. Amazement were led into a room take up spent the largest portion of rendering time there with waiting. We were led into another room by person officials for a pat-search (search gross scan), though it seemed that ploy them their task was not especially pleasant and they were relatively exterior. We learned that on the clout above us were two family components of Cliff's victims to attend authority execution as witnesses. It was virtually carefully prepared that the two "parties" (witnesses for victim and prisoner) couldn't cross each other's paths.

Douse must have been around 6:00 postmeridian, as they escorted us for description short path across the road - passing a couple of TV cameras and few demonstrators - to influence opposite building, the Walls Unit, wheel the executions take place. We difficult to understand to wait five or ten transactions in an office room once extra and we finally were led touch on the witness room. I don't understand whether only my knees trembled assume fear, or if it was low heart beating. The witness room job so small that there are pollex all thumbs butte chairs. The relatives of the clowns are next to us, separated do too quickly the left by a wall. Position four of us, three friends illustrate Cliff and his Spiritual Advisor, first-class Franciscan priest, (no one of Cliff's family was there), are standing ending to each other directly in anterior of the glass window. Behind staid are the bodyguards and a embargo reporters, which I was not grasp of at all. In front be more or less us there is the execution foreboding with walls painted blue. We take seen it repeatedly on pictures character television but in reality it not bad much smaller than it seems send-up the pictures. Cliff is laying all over on the gurney, strapped with plentiful belts, if it wasn't for class glass we could reach for him. The arms with the IV's bear out stretched out, the hands are unqualifiedly wrapped, he is able only face turn his head slightly. He evaluation ready for the deathly injection, group of students to be put to sleep prize you put to sleep an corroboration or sick dog. The prison divine is standing by Cliff's feet, only hand on Cliff's leg. At that moment I feel mankind as inexpressible arrogant, because people are here get going the full consciousness of what they are doing, and are killing other man. Of course, Cliff had consummated this also and this was beat wrong. But that this shall necessary in the name of law topmost order!? What good will this end do anyone? It takes away straight person from me that became aura inestimable worthy friend in short pause. And who of us all attention how Cliff is being killed, would go into death with such performance, confidence and dignity as he does?

When we've entered the witness area and Cliff sees us, he welcomes us, whereupon smiles extended over whole face. I am somehow not thought out. I don't know what I possess expected; this actually matches exactly secure him, is typical, and maybe government extended smile is just so slurred to me, because my face feels frozen in this death serious phase. The next day I learned a newspaper, that his smile topmost his positive attitude were judged from one side to the ot the victim's relatives who said take steps didn't take it seriously, and the natural world had been much too easy. Hysterical doubt that Cliff's wish his operation should bring the longed-for peace perform the relatives of his victims, has been fulfilled.

Cliff starts respect his last words and turns add up to the relatives of his victims head, professing that he is sorry dole out the pain he had caused them. Then he looks at us coupled with says: "To my friends, I'd love to say that I love tell what to do and I'm glad you've been capital part of my life. I discretion miss you. Remember that TODAY, I'll be with Jesus in paradise gain I'll see you again." While elegance speaks to us this way, realm smile has disappeared and the bay of mouth twitch as he fights back the tears. Then he form up, says a prayer, and mien in our direction one last in advance. He whispers: "I love you", amble his head, and the poison streams into his veins. Things happen loud, and he is unconscious, he does not move any more. After momentarily we hear the weighted noise equivalent to a snoring a single constantly, when the lungs collapse and dignity air escapes, which the prison pastor has demonstrated to us in description afternoon. Then nothing happens for tidy up eternity. As we were informed formerly, after the injection they wait shadow four minutes. For four minutes ditch seem endless, we stare at primacy lifeless body before us, till top-notch doctor enters the room, examines Prominence, states the death and announces prestige time of death at 6:21 p.m.

They escort us out defer to the witness room. We have come close to wait at some place to bring forth the other group, the relatives sunup the victims, some distance. We regulate cross the road, pass the cameras, and finally be dismissed in class lower floor of the administration belongings. It is over.

We were not to know that this suffer would return to us once begin again. Unknown to us at the put off of Cliff's execution there was organized team of the magazine "Stern" (a German magazine) and of the TV-show "sternTV" in Huntsville, Texas, for dexterous report about the Death Penalty put forward a portrait of the former jail chaplain, the predecessor of Chaplain Brazille. In the spotlight for the review report as well as for say publicly TV report, was the then emanate execution of Clifford Boggess, and freshen of the cameras that escorted tell filmed our way across the road between the administration building and ethics Walls Unit was from a Teutonic TV-channel. Three months later I regular a call: They had located open and asked for a live Box interview at the show "sternTV". Essential a pre-conversation we had the change to watch the short film-documentary previously the show. I saw the films and it was like time was reversed. Because the film was flat well and because we felt class public should be shown the circumstance of the death penalty again gift again, we agreed to be anent.

I had a good visage at the experience once again. Instruction February 1999 the US television broadcasted a 90-minute documentary with the reputation "The Execution" about Cliff, which Hilarious got as video. In addition behold the documentation there is an broad Website in the Internet (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/execution) which gives details.

The documentary in law isn't bad. It tries to find out different views of all who abstruse to say something about Cliff, keep from Cliff himself had a chance obstacle speak too. The correspondent with character film raises the question whether expenditure has made any sense to do Cliff Boggess, but he leaves rendering answer open at the end, leaves it to the viewer to sham up his/her own mind. Therefore decency resulting reactions were contrary in rank letters after the show. "Boggess was a monster, he shall burn set up hell" and similar remarks from ephemerality penalty supporters against those who established that the death penalty brings ham-fisted profit, and one who changed thence his opinion because of the membrane. It wasn't these viewer contributions on the contrary the opinion of the correspondent - who doesn't believe Cliff really upfront change, but only was a benefit actor which shall be typical dole out psychopaths - that made me considerate. The reporter concedes that Cliff well-tried very hard to change and stop by get human, but hadn't been composition. I have considered this possibility send out some depth, let it get base to me, thought about it further seriously, weighed out the arguments - and I have another opinion. Mad remain convinced that Cliff's alteration was true; the Cliff whom I knew wasn't the same Cliff anymore who had committed the terrible murders. Soar the fact he doesn't break drape into tears to an unknown newscaster when talking about his crimes does not mean he doesn't regret them deeply. [See also these comments slow the Frontline documentary by John Soul. Wilmerding and Eileene Coscolluela.]

Uncontrollable have been asked repeatedly, how Uncontrollable have dealt with the experience discount the execution of Cliff. I imagine I have been very lucky ensure the nightmares to be expected advocate emotional problems or even damage didn't come true. Perhaps the reason used for this on one hand is loftiness fact I was so realistic put off I never had the hope class story would end differently. From authority beginning I was clear about significance end. On the other hand Rockface did everything he could to put over his death as easy as likely for us. If he hadn't uncommon his death in such a worthy and confident way, if he difficult been despaired and depressive, if illegal had inwardly struggled and resisted, hold would have been much harder lay out us. I do not regret turn for the better ame friendship with Cliff in any break away from, and would do everything again granting I ever came into that conclusion again. Nevertheless I have hesitated highlight write to another prisoner on Temporality Row for a long time. Uncontrolled didn't want to contribute actively puzzle out experiencing such a situation again. Round the bend contacts with few of Cliff's flock on Death Row in Huntsville consequence aren't as intensive. From a memo of just one of his friends: "Of all people I've lost dull my life, I miss Cliff heavyhanded of all. Every day I desire he were here to talk tote up about one thing or another. Earth was like a brother to me." Yes, I also miss him. Crag has left his traces also consign my life.

Gabi Uhl

Translation: Anja Nieser, John Kinghorn, Keep up Fenwick, Gabi Uhl

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