Death Row Stories
Welcome to Death Row Stories, a podcast dedicated to exploring the complex and often harrowing world of the death penalty in the United States. I’m François Picard, a journalist and documentary director with over 20 years of experience. Throughout my career, the most impactful reports I produced were those about death row. In this podcast, I shed light on the human stories behind the death penalty, offering firsthand accounts and in-depth analysis. Join me as we uncover the realities behind these 2 words.
Discover our stories on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Death-Row-Stories
- Update frequency
- every 11 days
- Average duration
- 27 minutes
- Episodes
- 23
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
🎙️ The Singer Who Lost Everything to a Lie
What happens when a rising singer is accused of a crime he didn’t commit—based only on lies?
In this gripping episode of Death Row Stories, Perry Cobb takes us through his extraordinary life: from per…
Death Row Through a Sociologist’s Eyes
What happens when a sociologist steps into the execution chamber—not just as a researcher, but as someone chosen to witness a man’s final moments?In this powerful episode, Dr. Sandra Joy shares her u…
On Death Row Since 2016: What the Jury Wasn’t Told
🔎 Who decides who lives—and who dies?In this new episode of Death Row Stories, we dive into the case of Demond Depree Bluntson, a Texas man incarcerated since 2012 and sentenced to death in 2016.His …
Sent to Death Row on Junk Science — Can a Law Save Them?
Can discredited forensic science send innocent people to death row?Texas was the first state to pass a law—known as the Junk Science Law (Article 11.073)—giving prisoners a chance to challenge their …
He Escaped Death Row—Then Stopped Another Execution
Anthony Graves spent 18 years behind bars—12 of them on death row—for a crime he didn’t commit.Wrongfully convicted based on false testimony, Graves endured solitary confinement, relentless pressure …
How Texas Sent an Innocent Black Man to Death Row
How Texas Sent an Innocent Black Man to Death Row | Anthony Graves’ Shocking Story
Imagine being taken from your home, accused of a brutal crime you didn’t commit, and sentenced to die—all without a …
"I Was Framed for MURDER!" Anthony Graves' Story
"I Was Framed for MURDER!" In this gripping second part of the tenth episode of Death Row Stories, Anthony Graves shares the nightmare of being wrongfully convicted of a brutal crime he didn’t commit…
Falsely Accused: Anthony Graves Speaks Out
In this powerful episode, we begin uncovering the extraordinary life of Anthony Graves, a man who faced unimaginable circumstances after being falsely accused. Arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, …
The Woman Who Attended Over 400 Executions
What drives someone to witness over 400 executions? In this ninth episode of Death Row Stories, meet Gloria Rubac, a retired teacher who has spent decades outside the Huntsville Unit on execution day…
Perillo's Miracle: Facing Execution and Defying the Odds - Ep 4 (Part 5)
In this unforgettable finale of Pamela Perillo’s story, she opens up about the harrowing reality of life on Death Row. From the looming shadow of execution to the resilience it took to survive, Pamel…
The Death Penalty Capital of the World Gets a New DA... Now what?
Harris County, Texas, known as the Death Penalty Capital of the World, just elected a new District Attorney. With Sean Teare taking office, questions arise: Will this shift bring any change to the co…
Crime, Justice, Churches, and Love: The Steven Nelson Case | Death Row Stories Ep 7.
A shocking crime. A divided community. Two churches at odds. This episode delves into the complex case of Steven Nelson, whose death penalty trial became a battleground for fairness, justice, and lov…
Innocent, but 20 Years on Texas Death Row. Kerry Max Cook speaks out! | Death Row Stories Ep 6.
In this gripping sixth episode, filmed live at the Texas Tribune Festival, we dive deep into the harrowing journey of Kerry Max Cook, a man who spent two decades on Texas Death Row, relentlessly figh…
Perillo's UNBELIEVABLE Decision That kept her on Death Row | Death Row Stories Ep. 4 (Part 4)
In Part 4 of our in-depth interview with Pamela Perillo, we delve further into the harrowing realities of life on death row and the moral challenges Pamela faced. After being sentenced to death for h…
Why Would I Be Conservative, Texan, and Against the Death Penalty? | Death Row Stories Ep. 5
Howdy! Isn’t the death penalty the ultimate symbol of Texan strength and justice? Some conservatives are starting to think differently. In this episode, Nan Tolson, a lifelong Texan and director of C…
Perillo’s Shocking Confession: The Moment Everything Changed | Death Row Stories Ep. 4 (Part 3)
In this gripping third part of Episode 4 of Death Row Stories, we follow Pamela Perillo as her life spirals in unexpected ways. After fleeing California, she finds herself in Houston, where events ta…
Perillo’s Journey, Escaping California’s Addiction-Fueled Chaos | Death Row Stories Ep. 4 (Part 2)
In the fourth episode of Death Row Stories, Pamela Perillo recounts her tumultuous journey from Southern California to Texas. After a difficult youth in Linwood, California, marred by abuse and add…
Pamela Perillo’s Unforgettable Journey of Survival | Death Row Stories Ep. 4 (Part 1)
In this first part of the 4th episode of Death Row Stories, we begin an emotional and gripping journey with Pamela Perillo, a woman whose life has been marked by unimaginable hardships, including sev…
At Texas Tribune Festival, Richard Linklater Reveals His Role in Stopping the 'Baking' of Prisoners. Ep. 3
Join acclaimed filmmaker Richard Linklater at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on September 7, 2024, as he uncovers the devastating reality of Texas prisons. Linklater's personal involvement in a…
Outside the Walls: Voices of Protest at a Texas Execution
As the state of Texas prepared to execute Ramiro Gonzales on June 26, 2024, we took a journey to Huntsville to explore who gathers outside the prison walls during these moments—and why.
In this episo…