Stay ConnectedThere are no witnesses, no fingerprints, and no confession to the 1992 deaths of Tommy Griffin and his sister, Connie Branam in East Tennessee.
There are, however, four alleged and un-investigated alternate suspects, six alibi witnesses, a disgraced medical examiner, a nearly impossible timeline, a bad search warrant, and a man named Gary Sutton sitting on Death Row. Did the state damn the wrong man to die?
With seven criminal charges dismissed, Gary Sutton's weekend was looking up, and he had a full day to hang around with his best friend, Tommy Griffin, and his Uncle James Dellinger. Before midnight, Tommy would be in jail and his trailer would be a smoldering heap.
Episode Links
❓Beth questions trailer fire investigation
🔎 Wondering what it takes to investigate a decades old case?
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Things were tense in the holler on Bluff Heights in the months leading up to the death of Tommy Griffin and Connie Branum, but Gary Sutton finally got some good news.
📱 Text or call 988 if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts - 988lifeline.org
📸 Beth pays her respects at Martin Justus Cemetery
📃 Atkins v. Virginia overview & opinions - Justia
🗞️ "Nashville DA says death row inmate should not face execution due to intellectual disability" - The Tennessean, March 11, 2022
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Gary Wayne Sutton has been in prison for 34 years. He's spent 30 of them on death row. The State of Tennessee is scheduled to execute him on December 3, 2026….but was his guilt proven beyond a reasonable doubt?
Episode Links
📸 Photo of Carolyn & Gary from 1993
🗞️ "4 Tennessee death row inmates scheduled for execution in 2026" - WJHL, Jan 16, 2026
📸 One of Beth's many visits to Sevier County's archives
🎤 Dolly Parton's America Podcast
☕Buy Beth a Coffee
Stay connected with Beth's reporting and follow along as the stories unfold. Follow us on your favorite platform.
Beth Braden: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok
Time of Death Podcast: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok
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