Jonathan Hirsch

A loved one and an advocate for the person on trial.

So it puts the state and Kent in a tricky situation.

He spends the next decade traveling around, writing, appealing to anyone, honestly, who will listen to him, that the state has to seek mercy for his son, not just vengeance.

The entire trajectory of his life becomes defined by this event.

Appeal after appeal fails.

And then finally, the time has come, right?

Early 2018...

Bart has an execution date.

And the Texas governor, Greg Abbott, has never commuted a death sentence before.

But in February 2018, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles unanimously recommends commuting Bart's sentence to life without parole, citing, among other things, Kent's plea and the fact that the trigger man was not sentenced to death.

So why would the leader in the conspiracy be?

Well, the recommendations are only advisory.

So the governor has to step in and say, hey-

Don't take this man's life.

So the process carries on, right?

The day of the execution arrives.

Bart is moved to the death chamber.

He's served his last meal.

He's strapped onto the gurney.

He says goodbye to Kent.