Nashville’s Howard Hawk Willis Protests Innocence with Hunger Strike

News Summary

Nashville is witnessing a contentious hunger strike by Howard Hawk Willis, a 73-year-old man on death row, who claims innocence in the 2002 murder of teenagers Adam and Samantha Chrismer. Despite a conviction in 2010, Willis seeks a new trial and protests against poor treatment in prison. His situation raises critical questions regarding justice, particularly with allegations of a setup and new evidence he argues warrants reevaluation. As Willis faces health challenges, his claim continues to draw attention to the complexities of the criminal justice system.

Nashville: A Controversial Hunger Strike Unfolds on Death Row

Nashville is currently the center of a heated controversy as 73-year-old Howard Hawk Willis stages a hunger strike from his cell at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. This dramatic act draws attention to his steadfast claims of innocence in the 2002 double murder of teenagers Adam and Samantha Chrismer.

A Flashback to 2002

It all started back in 2002 when the bodies of the Chrismer siblings were tragically taken from this world. Investigators found that Willis had murdered the pair, dismembered their bodies, and concealed most of the remains in barrels stashed away in a storage unit located in Johnson City. Heart-wrenching evidence was later discovered when fishermen found the head and hands of one of the victims near Winged Deer Park on Boone Lake.

Legal Troubles and Conviction

Despite being convicted in 2010, Willis continues to adamantly maintain his innocence. More recently, he attempted to secure a new trial, but his request was swiftly denied by the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals just last month. It appears that the odds are stacked against him as he faces a life behind bars, compounded by complaints about his medical care, locked cell doors, and food quality.

The Hunger Strike

Willis has taken extreme measures to voice his dissatisfaction. Honestly, who could blame him? This desperate hunger strike shines a spotlight on issues that some inmates face inside the prison system. As he rallies against what he claims is subpar treatment, it’s impossible to ignore the timing of his protest.

Cognitive Concerns

As if the situation isn’t challenging enough, there are reports suggesting that Willis may have suffered a stroke, affecting his cognitive abilities. The combination of age and health issues certainly raises eyebrows about his mental state during trial proceedings where he represented himself after various conflicts with legal counsel.

Questions About Justice

Despite the overwhelming evidence that led to his conviction, Willis remains focused on his appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is claiming that there are 20 issues regarding his conviction that he believes warrant closer inspection. Among these claims is the argument that new evidence was never shared with the jury, including statements from both his deceased mother and ex-wife. The implications of this additional evidence are intriguing, as they could potentially change the narrative surrounding his case.

Claims of a Setup

What really caught interest is Willis’s assertion that his own mother once claimed she would set him up for any crime. His ex-wife even recorded a statement insisting that Willis was not present with the victims at the time they vanished. Such allegations add a layer of complexity that certainly shrouds the case in mystery.

The State’s Position

The prosecution, however, is unfazed and argues that even if this new evidence had been considered, the existing confessional and fingerprint evidence against Willis was substantial enough to ensure the same verdict would be reached. As the court continues to navigate this tangled web of accusations and counterclaims, one has to wonder: what will it ultimately mean for Willis? Could there be a chance that the courts might change their minds?

Hope for the Future

Leaning into his claims of innocence, Willis maintains a glimmer of hope that he will be able to return to Johnson City and actively fight his murder conviction before the year concludes. He confidently states that he possesses video evidence that he believes will exonerate him. The weight of such a claim rests heavily on his shoulders in an atmosphere that is already filled with tension and uncertainty.

Conclusion

Nashville’s unfolding story of Howard Hawk Willis is a tumultuous mix of legal battles, emotional stakes, and passionate claims of innocence. As the death row inmate continues his hunger strike and grapples with the harsh realities of prison life, all eyes will be on this case to see how it ultimately plays out in the courts. The journey is far from over.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Additional Resources

• WJHL: Howard Hawk Willis Court Appearance
• Wikipedia: Howard Hawk Willis
• WJHL: New Evidence in Howard Hawk Willis Case
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Howard Hawk Willis
• Johnson City Press: Willis Demands New Trial
• Google Search: Howard Hawk Willis New Trial
• WJHL: Howard Hawk Willis Death Sentence Upheld
• Google News: Howard Hawk Willis Death Sentence
• WJHL: Defense Attorney on Sixth Amendment Rights
• Google Scholar: Howard Hawk Willis