Rowe Publishing have been nice enough to convert Kenny's poems to e-book format:

http://www.rowepublishing.com/freedownloads.html

A participant of the message board at prodeathpenalty.com that goes by the nick "RED" did some serious research into Kenny's case. With his permission we publish his results here.

It's long but well worth the time reading, as RED is himself pro DP and well versed in law.

A number of previously-held-sacred "beliefs" about fire
investigation, terminology, fire causes, are fast-becoming outdated. Several are described here.

Low burn patterns were always considered a sure sign that flammable liquid was used. Those were the good old days when no one ever questioned what have become known as "old wives tales."

Now the only thing a low burn pattern means is that an intense fire was burning in that area. Could it be a liquid accelerant? Yes. However, it could be a host of other things that have nothing to do with flammable fluids. Be careful.

In the old days we spoke of a fire being suspicious. Some of us used to ask what that meant. People are suspicious. Fires are not suspicious.

Now the NFPA and other fire related organizations have taken a stand on the term "suspicious." It does not exist. Either the fire is incendiary or the cause could be electrical, natural, chemical.

If none of these fit the bill then the cause is "unknown." That's right folks UNKNOWN. For some that comes as a shock. For most of us in the profession it is a welcome and realistic approach. If you do not know what the cause of the fire is then it should be left unknown. The NYS Courts have held that for a fire to be declared incendiary there must be "clear and convincing evidence." Vague terms such as "fire burned to fast" is far from clear and convincing.

While we are on the subject of "fires that burn too fast" we call your attention to the tests that have been done and the computer models that have been run that show a seven minute time frame from the time of open flame to target to the time frame can bring a room into flashover conditions.

A work station can generate KW's of energy in seven minutes. Note the following illustration of a live burn" conducted by NFPA. Several fires this office investigated in both NYC and Atlanta, GA bear out the speed of fires.
Burning office workstation rapidly reaches high temperatures. NFPA tests have shown that as little as seven minutes can elapse between time of open flame ...to time that a room is brought to flashover conditions.

Several office fires investigated by our office in New York City and in Atlanta bear out this speed of fire spread.

Click on the photo thumbnails to see the full-sized picture.

Also on the death list of "old wives tales" is the analysis of the charring and blistered wood as an indication of whatever people said it indicated. There is apparently no scientific evidence that gives any indication that large blisters on wood, small blisters on wood, shiny blisters have any meaning at all with regard to the progress of the fire.

Finally, bid farewell to "spalling concrete" and annealed springs as sure signs of liquid accelerant. Life was so much simpler in the old days.

Article written by Edinburgh Evening News in April 2002

Lines from Death Row

By JASON CUMMING

WOMAN SCOTLAND TAKES ON CAUSE TO SAVE OHIO DEATH ROW INMATE

BY GEORGE J. TANBER BLADE STAFF WRITER

OTTAWA, O.

This is the final of two articles on Kenny Richey, who has been on Ohio's death row for 11 years. Richey was convicted in the arson death of a 2-year-old Putnam County girl in 1987. A campaign for a new trial has been gaining momentum in Scotland, where Richey lived his first 18 years. Ohio authorities remain convinced he is guilty. Yesterday's article reviewed the fire and trial. Today's account addresses what Richey's attorneys say is new evidence and looks at the campaign for a new trial and the people behind it.