Original subtitles

In this lecture, I will focus on the theory of quantum mechanics.

In quantum mechanics, there are two types of phenomena.

Ms. King?

Who is this?

My name is John Siringo.

I'd like to invite you and Jack Killian to an execution.

We've also learned today, a final ruling has been handed down

by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that

will result in California's first execution

since 1967. On Thursday, a federal appellate

court affirmed the death sentence of John

Siringo, the convicted murderer of three Bay

Area teenagers. The 58-page ruling handed

down by the circuit court exhausted

Siringo's last remaining hopes for clemency.

I couldn't believe it. I thought it was

just a crank call at first, just some freak.

Well, it's not exactly a real American boy. Hardly. But I never even heard of the case

before. So this morning I asked Billy to pull a

file from the library. It's not much here. Ten

years ago, he killed three kids in cold blood,

two boys and a girl. Of course, he swore he was

innocent. And if he was innocent? Still gonna

die. Precisely. I remember this case. But what

are we talking about here? Capital punishment. I

heard of that. I want to do a show about capital

punishment. And then I want us to take the show

to death row. I want to hear John Siringo's story.

Let's show the people how a so-called civilized

society conducts its business. Let's show them

what it's like to kill one of their own. Well,

I got a problem with that. I believe in capital

punishment. I believe that society has the right

to take the life of someone who murders another

human being. And so does the Supreme Court. And

that's why we have to do this. Now, the Department

of Corrections has given us permission to spend

the last night with Siringo on death row. How did

you manage to pull this off? With great difficulty. Morning.

Afternoon, John. Did you hear from the radio people?

Well, I spoke to the woman about an hour ago. A

comment? Your request to be interviewed has been

approved by the department, but there seems to

be some reluctance on the part of Mr. Killian.

What do you mean? Well, he's just not sure this is

something that he wants to do. Can't say I'll blame him.

Warden, I've been on death row 10 years. All

I want is one last chance to tell my story.

Don't ask him too much. I'm afraid you're the only one

that can answer that question, John. Only you and God.

Johnson was the arresting officer. He told me he was 99 percent sure Siringo did it.

Siringo was smashed when he was arrested, made

his confession. Not so that he couldn't be

Mirandized. But he was straight the following

afternoon when Johnson went back and walked him

through it again. You walked him through it? Hey,

Jack, what else do you do? Anyway, Siringo gave him the

same story, almost word for word. Three days later, denied

the whole thing, said he was coerced into confessing.

How well do you know Johnson? Well, enough. He played

it by the book. Everything was according to oil.

If you're looking for trouble, Jack, you're not going to find

it. This guy, Siringo, was a monster, an animal, a stone killer.

But they never found a smoking gun, did they?

Siringo called Devin and invited us to his execution.

Think about taking a show to death row. Well, Jack, if I were you, I'd just say no.

Because if this thing goes wrong on you, you could become very unpopular very fast.

A man is about to die within the walls of this prison. He murdered three

kids in cold blood during the commission of a robbery that netted him $14.37.

I'm a father. I think we can all understand what the parents of

those three kids have been going through for the past 10 years.

However, every man and woman in this room must

put aside his or her feelings about this case.

We have a job to do. And that job is to help one human being die with dignity. I will not tolerate

anything less than your 100 percent cooperation and professionalism in the course of this execution.

Thank you. It's now 12.01 a.m. In exactly 24 hours, the first execution

in the state of California since 1967 is scheduled to take place.

A convicted killer named John Siringo will die

in the gas chamber at the state penitentiary.

Tonight on a midnight call, we're going to be talking about capital punishment. The question

is, does society have the right to take a human life in payment for the ultimate crime?

Crime of murder. We're going to be here for the next three hours

looking for some answers. And the lines are open now, so give us a call.

You're on Sunnyvale. I'm not speaking for Sunnyvale, just for myself. And I think

we should fry this guy. That's what I think. It's California. We don't fry him.

Well, how about hanging? It's slower. How we

do it is not the issue. It's should we do it?

South City, you're on. Siringo didn't do it. I did.

Well, folks, that is the third sicko call of the evening. Not bad, all

things considered. But we're trying to talk about something important here.

So let's keep the crap to a minimum, you know, like no mas, no mas, OK?

I think it's barbaric. The taking of one human life for

another makes us no better than animals. It solves nothing.

But Louise, let me ask you, how do we deal with murderers? How else do we send

a message that says you can't take a human life? What other road do we travel?

The only road there is, Jack, the road of forgiveness, because at the end

of that road, you'll find salvation in the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We go to our last call of the night. It is Georgette in Fairfax. You're on the air.

Jack, I've been listening to the show all night.

And have you come to any conclusions, Georgette?

My last name is Onisio. Does that name mean anything

to you? It should, because Timothy Onisio was my son.

He was 17 years old and he was murdered by John Siringo.

Timothy was our only child. He would have been married

now. He would have a family and a career, a life.

I've tried to forgive John Siringo for what he did, but I can't.

It only took that animal one minute to destroy what we spent a lifetime building.

And that's what John Siringo did. And that's why I want John Siringo to die.

That's what John Siringo did. And that's why I want John Siringo to die.

I didn't bargain for that.

Well, you got it. And there's gonna be more where that came from.

Devin, you sure you really want to go through with this?

I feel very strongly about this.

And Jack, I respect your stand on the issue, even if I don't agree with it.

But if you can't bring yourself to do this show, then...

Then you'll find somebody else who will, right?

That's right.

OK, but before you say a novena for this guy Siringo, I want you to meet somebody.

I've heard what you're up to. I don't get it.

But to get right to it, Siringo is a boil on the backside of humanity.

A classic recidivist. One of these punks.

But the minute you looked into his eyes, you knew where his story was gonna end.

You ever see a 17-year-old kid that's been shot in

the forehead at point-blank range with a .357 Magnum?

What would you do if someone killed your kid?

I know what I'd do. I'd kill him myself.

Officer Johnson, you just stated the most compelling case against capital punishment.

And that's why laws were created. To protect us from our own worst instincts.

Don't tell me. You're a liberal, right?

Everyone on death row loves liberals.

All I can say is thank God not everybody agrees with you.

Look, we're not here to talk about politics. All I want to know is...

How did you make this case stick?

You never found a murder weapon.

And you never pulled any prints off the cash register at the scene.

Are you saying we didn't make a good bust?

No. All I'm saying is that this thing doesn't

track a straight line. It's not 100% clean.

I've had 25 years wearing the uniform. I never took a bribe.

I never mistreated a suspect, though many is the time I wanted to.

I have protected and served the people.

That's my story. That's all I can tell you.

Hey! Hey, Louie! Louie, look at here!

Come on! Come on! Come on!

It's just what you... Yeah! Yeah! Come on!

Look at this.

Come on!

All right, yeah, they're gonna fire.

It couldn't be that time. I'm afraid so.

I'm sorry the power's out.

We love you, brother.

Don't be afraid of John. He's fast.

You're going to a better place, Johnny. They can't hurt you anymore.

Yeah. See you around, brothers.

You need anything, you holler, John.

Thanks, Ray.

John Siringo, the co-founder and chief executive officer...

of the convicted killer of three Bay Area teenagers...

is now less than 12 hours away from his appointment with death.

Earlier today, Siringo dismissed his attorney, Edward Mecham.

Siringo was angered by comments Mecham made during a recent interview...

in which the attorney said he had little hope...

his client would be granted a stay of execution.

It's things like watching a bad car wreck about to happen in slow motion.

You don't want to look at it, but you can't help yourself.

Why do you want to keep your eyes closed to what's going on here?

I'm here, aren't I? I'm doing the show.

What's your problem?

My problem is I didn't believe Johnson.

It sounded to me like he wanted Siringo to be guilty, even if he wasn't.

It's not the cleanest bust I've ever seen, but I gotta tell you...

I believe that the system works.

Maybe you should just reserve your judgment until you meet this guy.

Maybe I should.

We all know the ground rules for this interview.

I expect you to honor them.

If there's any infringement, I'll pull the plug.

We understand each other.

John, any time you want to stop this, you stop it.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Sure, a couple of donuts.

But I want you to bring them to me.

All right.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

You look like your name.

A bit better.

Mr. Siringo...

You're the first woman I've been this close to in ten years.

I like your perfume.

Bet it's expensive.

Look, uh...

Call me John, Mr. Killian.

I can call you Jack.

Are you my guest?

No, you're my guest.

I invited you, remember?

The scene outside the death house has taken on a party-like atmosphere...

as convicted killer John Siringo moves closer

to his appointment with the gas chamber.

We have just learned that Jack Killian...

the controversial host of KJCM Radio's Midnight Caller show...

is with Siringo at this moment.

Killian was invited by Siringo to attend his execution.

Killian will be talking with the killer about his life...

and the violent crime that brought John

Siringo to this final rendezvous with death.

Stay tuned for further developments.

Let me...

I want...

I want...

They tell me the cyanide...

smells like almonds.

Take sixteen pellets...

wrap them in a piece of gauze and drop them in an acid solution.

It should reach my face in ten seconds.

Two minutes, I'll be unconscious...

dead in ten.

Why do you want to do this?

I heard the show last night.

I heard Timothy Inicio's mother crying.

I could feel her pain.

I don't blame her for wanting me dead.

My life was over before it ever began.

But I'm getting ahead of myself here.

So, where do we begin?

Jack, we're clear and we're ready to roll.

Get out of here, buddy.

All right.

Before we get going, I'd like you two to leave.

What?

I want it to be just him and me.

I can't concentrate with you here.

Whenever I look at you, all I can think about is...

what I've been missing for the past ten years.

Sorry.

It's my way or the highway.

All right.

Are we ready yet?

Okay, we're ready in five, four, three, two...

This is Jack Killian, your host on the Midnight Caller.

We're starting our program a little earlier than usual.

Tonight, I will be talking to convicted murderer...

John Siringo, who is...

scheduled to die in the gas chamber at 12.01 a.m.

In 1979, John Siringo was convicted...

of killing three Bay Area teenagers during the robbery of a convenience store.

He claims that he is innocent...

of the crime for which he must now pay the ultimate penalty.

In just a moment, we will hear John Siringo tell his story.

We will hear a convicted killer tell us what

it's like to be hours away from death...

with all legal options exhausted...

and little or no hope left for clemency.

Stay tuned to Midnight Caller on 98.3 FM.

We'll be right back.

Good introduction.

Thanks.

You know, you really shouldn't use those things.

Bad for your health.

Lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema.

It's not as bad as my health problem, though.

Takes a lot to beat cyanide poisoning.

Loosen up.

That's usually my line, John.

You said it.

You said my name. Thanks.

You know, when I was a kid, I had this dog.

Her name was Ginger.

I loved her more than I ever loved any human being.

Dogs are nice.

The night she was dying, I held her in my arms.

I thought if I stayed very close to her, she'd be with me forever.

I wanted to feel her soul as I left her body.

And you know something?

I did. I let it go.

And it was like a warm breeze after a summer rainstorm.

Sounds crazy, doesn't it?

Not really.

Think you'll be able to see my soul when I die?

I don't know.

Are you scared?

What's up, doctor?

Jack, I got an envelope for you here.

It looks like it's from some kid. Maybe a guard can get it up to you.

Yeah, whatever. We ready to go?

Yeah, Jack. We're back in five, four, three, two...

This is Jack Killian, your host on the Midnight Caller.

I'm here with John Syringo.

John is a convicted murderer.

But what makes John different from the other

243 prisoners now currently on death row

is the fact that he is about to die.

In just a few hours, John will walk into

the gas chamber and pay his debt to society.

But at this moment, it is not John Syringo that I'm thinking about.

Because last night I spoke to the mother of one of the boys that John Syringo killed.

And I am reminded that in this drama that is unfolding before us,

it is the families of the victims that have been forgotten.

And my first question to you, John, is

are you in any way remorseful for what you've done,

for the pain that you've inflicted on others?

Well, Jack, all I can say is

if by dying I can make these families feel any better about what's happened,

then I'm ready to go.

I understand that right now, outside the walls

of this prison, there's a big party going on.

People drinking beer, playing music, waiting for me to die.

But if I'm supposed to be the worst that society has to offer,

all I can say is look at yourself.

Look at what you're doing, what you're feeling.

Look at the hate in your hearts and then tell me I deserve to die.

John, you've claimed that you're innocent.

Yeah, that's right.

But nobody wants to believe that, so let's do something, Jack.

Let's go back to the night I killed those three kids.

Let me tell you what I did that night.

Or maybe I should say, let me tell you how the prosecution said I did it,

how they reconstructed the crime for me.

Sarah Rockwell,

Timothy Onisio,

Jeffrey Brackow.

I know those names better than I know my own,

because I've lived with them every night of my life for the past ten years.

The prosecution speculated I arrived at the convenience store

at approximately ten minutes after midnight.

Sarah Rockwell was behind the counter.

Jeffrey Brackow was cleaning up.

Third kid, Timothy Onisio, was waiting for his friends, just couldn't make time.

Headed directly for the cooler, I picked up two six-packs of beer.

Took the beer up to the register.

And that's when I pulled the gun.

Then they said I took the three kids into the storage room.

Told Timothy Onisio to tie up his friend Jeffrey.

And I told the girl to tie up Timothy.

They said that's when I went crazy.

They said I tried to rape the girl,

because the way her blouse and her clothes were torn.

But I couldn't do anything.

Because of the pills and a belly full of bourbon.

They said that's what pushed me over the edge.

They told me how those three kids pleaded for their lives,

but I didn't feel anything.

No compassion, no mercy.

For me it was just like shooting a pop bottle, as they said.

And that's the way it happened.

That's the way the police said it happened.

And you confessed to the murders of Sarah Rockwell,

Jeffrey Brackow, and Timothy Onisio.

Yeah, I was stoned out of my mind.

Three people identified you in a line-up as the

man that they saw at the scene of the murders.

Jack, I'm the classic death row prisoner.

I'm 37 years old.

Spent nearly half my life behind bars.

I was sexually abused by my father.

My mother was an alcoholic prostitute.

I was borderline illiterate before I did my first stretch and taught myself to read.

That's my tale of woe.

The man told me I did those murders.

And for a couple of days I believed him.

Then when I realized the truth, I withdrew my confession, but it was too late.

But what about the three eyewitnesses?

All three of those people knew the murder victims.

See, what a lot of people don't know is I got

this birthmark on the left side of my face.

It's called a wine stain.

They described the guy they saw at the scene as being

medium height, medium build, light to dark hair.

And he had a birthmark on his face.

That could be almost anybody except for the birthmark.

The truth is, I don't remember what happened that night.

After a while I began to believe whatever they told me.

And after all these years, I stopped caring about the truth.

Just like everybody else.

For you.

For you.

I wonder how many more of these we're going to get before tonight is over.

How are you holding up?

That's a good question, Billy.

Good question.

What's the answer?

The answer is he's holding up better than I am.

It's almost over.

How you doing?

Okay, I guess.

Anytime, Jack.

Hey.

Thanks.

Sure.

Are we ready yet?

Yeah, we're back.

Five, four, three, two...

This is Jack Killian.

I'm here with John Syringo in what they call the last night room.

It's a cell approximately six feet by thirteen feet.

It's not much different than all the other rooms

that John Syringo spent most of his life living in.

What does that feel like, John, to know that

you're less than an hour away from dying?

Death is...

Death is going to be a blessing.

A relief.

Because...

If you're talking about justice...

Now, I'm the winner here tonight.

Because if you really want to torture someone, you

just lock them up in a cell for the rest of their life.

Even if you didn't do what they say you did?

It doesn't matter anymore.

I'm worn out.

Exhausted.

I killed those three kids.

I didn't kill those three kids.

What's the truth? What's not?

I don't know. You tell me.

You fired your lawyer. He was your last hope.

Yeah, I fired him because he gave up on me. You blame me?

I only blame you for killing three people, John.

I guess, um...

I'm just like everybody else.

Well, I forgive you, Jack.

And I forgive...

Everybody out there who's just counting the hours until I die.

So, I'm the winner here tonight.

Not you.

And if you think John Serango's gonna break down and plead for his life, you're wrong.

My life's been a mess.

And I'm the one who screwed it up. I got no one else to blame.

And maybe you wore me down.

But I'm not gonna give anyone the satisfaction of knowing that he broke me.

I'm gonna die like a man.

Even if you're gonna kill me like an animal.

Mr. King.

Mr. Poe.

We're taking him now.

Even though John has requested your presence,

I don't think this is something you're gonna want to see.

You're right, I don't.

It is now five minutes to twelve, and that brings us to the end of our broadcast.

John, is there anything else you'd like to say?

This is it.

It's time to sign off, folks.

See you in hell.

Time to go, John.

I meant what I said, Jack.

I'm not gonna break. That's important.

I screwed everything else up. I gotta do this right.

Yeah.

I'm gonna make it home alone.

I can do it.

I'm with you, Jack.

Yeah, he's taking no good care of me.

I'm gonna be alright.

I'll be fine. Just fine.

Do you have anything you want to say?

Yeah.

Good night.

Good night, America.

Wherever you are.

Alright, let's do it.

This way.

This way.

Yesterday at approximately 12.01 a.m.

I watched a man die in a gas chamber at the state penitentiary.

His name was John Syringo.

His death, like his life, were, and ultimately, sad.

I went to see him die because I wanted to believe

that our great American system of justice still works.

But tonight I'm not so sure that it does.

Because I can never feel good about what I saw.

John Syringo died with dignity.

And in his final moments, he wanted to show the world that he was a man.

And he did.

But he died in a cold, starkly lit room.

Surrounded by a handful of strangers.

And nobody waved goodbye.

This is your host Jack Killian on KJC and Radio 98.3 on your FM dial.

And good night, America, wherever you are.