Back in 1999, Michael Toney was convicted and sentenced to die for the cruel bombing of a mobile home that killed three people in 1985.
For years and years, Michael Toney — who had no connection with the victims that was ever found, and who had no physical evidence connecting him to the crime – wrote everyone he could about his innocence. He didn’t know who put a briefcase with a bomb inside on the Blount’s front stoop, but Michael Toney knew he hadn’t done it.
Dead Man Walking on Texas Death Row
Few listened, few believed him. He was the proverbial dead man walking as he spent his days awaiting execution on Texas’ Death Row.
Amazing Revelation: Prosecutors Withheld Critical Evidence
And then an amazing thing happened. It was revealed that the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office had withheld 14 pieces of evidence during Toney’s trial that were key to his defense. They just didn’t share them with the other side.
With obvious chagrin, Tarrant County prosecutors turned the case over to the Attorney General for the State of Texas. Suddenly, Michael Toney had hope.
Toney’s Case is Overturned – Michael Toney is a Free Man
And then, just last December it happened. Michael Toney’s execution was overturned. After some legal wrangling by the AG’s office, Michael Toney walked out of prison a free man on September 2, 2009.
Within One Month of His Release, Toney Is Dead
No one knows much about what happened between September 2nd and October 3rd. Michael Toney took up residence in Jacksonville. What we do know is that it was foggy that Saturday morning. Michael Toney was out driving his pick up truck on a Texas farm to market road near to Jacksonville, when something happened. The pickup went off the road and rolled over, throwing Toney from the vehicle. There are rumors of alcohol being involved, but nothing is certain.
Michael Toney’s Dies One Month After He’s Freed
So, just one month after Michael Toney walked from Texas Death Row into a second chance at life, he died on a foggy October morning all alone, in car crash. Sure does make you wonder.
There are reports that the bombing victims’ family opine that Toney may not have died in the wreck, though the Texas Department of Public Safety seems pretty sure that Toney is indeed the one who died that day.
Is Anyone Else Thinking that Michael Toney’s Death is Suspicious?
What hasn’t been reported yet is the possibility that Toney might have been a victim of someone’s thwarted vengence. There were a great many folk who refused to believe in Michael Toney’s innocence, and this foggy single car motor vehicle accident should get more than its fair share of CSI treatment.
Criminal law may make one suspicious, but surely there are some folk out there wondering if there is something rotten in Denmark about this accidental death ….
I know what happened since September 2. It is in my comments on DA WATCH;Mike went to stay with his son’s grand parents, at Rusk,TX. With our money (French defense committee) he bought a very little house by them, and that pickup.And a Siberian Husky from a dog shelter.
His criminal ex-wife Kim ex-Toney told the prosecution Mike never drank alcohol.Only beer and orange juice.
The truck had been to repairs for 2 weeks and needed more, said the grand Ma. So it has to be seen by experts. And Mike had it with enormous wheels that are not for a pick up but for the road monsters! He was proud to parade on top of it! People took photos!
For 9 years I have been his “Mom”.I went to Polunski. I had promised him, from the beginning, to pay his flight to Paris to celebrate.
There will be no flight!
But I’m not suspicious. It was “cloudy and dry”. He did not manage with the curve, that’s all.
The funeral is for to-day at 2 p.m.
We loved him!
There will be no flight.His whole “French harem” is at lost.
But I’m NOT suspicious.It was “cloudy and dry”. He did not manage with the curve, that’s all.
There are so many things about the Michael Toney case that do not jibe that I would not preclude the possibility that foul play could have been involved. It’s a crying shame that Michael died before the identity of the real murderer could be revealed. I hate to rain on Susan Blount’s parade but the murderer of her loved ones is still out there somewhere.
Minister Edwin SMITH, who sent on internet a call for help for Michael in 2000, will be with us, Mike’s supporters,in Paris on Saturday evening, October 24.
On Sunday 25, we’ll attend a mass at 11h3O (French time)
Edwin is on leave from Irak.
Christiane; I’m pleased that you are remembering Michael with a mass in Paris. I wish my children could attend. Texas was more of an ordeal for them. I still search the internet for new info. on Michael. Closure seems to be elusive after such a long struggle. I can take comfort in the fact that Michael truly is in a better place now.
If Toney is truely dade….AMEN!!!
I have doubts that he is dead. That evil of a man could have very well staged that death.
How much money did our tax payers have to pay for him. Should have executed him a long time ago. Instead we wasted money. But in the end, Justice is served.
My niece is married to Michael Toney’s brother Rick Toney. Rick was in an auto accident in 2007 leaving him a paraplegic. Rick says that Michael had bought a house for him in Texas when he was released from prison so that he could help take care of him. It is currently unknown if the house was bought in his brothers name or not. Rick almost did not make it in his accident. One could wonder if there is a curse bent on taking them all out. Is it fate, a bad curse, or what?
How much is your income tax?
Ex-prosecutor Michael PARRISH wasted YOUR money (if you pay any…) trying in law court to murder a man he KNEW was innocent.
But don’t worry, it cost LESS than the Iraq war.
Answer to Michael TINER:
there was a house on sale by Michael Toney’s home, at Rusk, TX. Mike proposed Rick to get it for him, under certain promise (ask Rick about this) But Rick did not agree.Then, Michael did not buy the house, and now somebody is living there.
I obtained this information from Michael’s son’s mother, at Rusk, TX.
answer to JOURDYN :
Yes, Love, Toney is “truely dade”, but, did you ever hear about GHOST coming to pull your toes?
The corroner’s report showed that Michael had only Tylenol & caffiene in his system. His neck was broken. Mr. Tiner, I don’t believe in any curse but Michael’s grandchildren are truly special and their well being is one of my priorities in life. We pray that Rick’s future is void of any more trauma.
Christiane,
In the rest of the country, beer contains alcohol.
No one will know or understand the psychological damage that this situation can do to someone, time will only tell. I’m now in a state of confusion, regret, and sorrow and I don’t know how to feel. There is no suspicion, i saw my father for the first time outside of prison, in a casket. The fact that his death is being questioned is an insult to my siblings and myself. I would appreciate it if this post was removed out of respect.
Jeromy,
I’m expecting a message from Tammy, telling me your baby-girl is born (?).
Enjoy it, it is a GREAT day,a first child’s birth!
I will write you later about your Dad but, just now, have a break and celebrate your baby.
On February 14, we’ll dissolve “Mike’s Defense Committee”. Then, it will be time to gather his letters and exchange together.
Until soon!
Christiane
Michael intended to continue, when released, the fight against the wrongful convictions. So I guess he would help Hank SKINNER and Troy DAVIS today.
I wonder: is the USA “Justice” becoming a self service?
Michael wrote:”I was convicted of a crimeI’m unequivocally innocent of, solely because of lies. There is no real protection from liars in the courtroom, because the jurors are not lie detectors and prosecutors are not supposed to sponsor lies and liars!
When our Constitution was written, people were not near as dishonest as they are today. Often, when the Supreme Court interprets the law and the Constitution,they talk about “the Evolving Standards of Decency”, but I think they are remiss to mention the “Devolving Standards of Indecency.”
January 15, 2007, Michael wrote to me:
“We had another suicide here last week…How can death be punishment when they want to die ? Death cannot be punishment when it is the one thing that is imminent upon conception. Life is punishment!”vcfd
Michael was released on Sept. 2, 2009. We are on April 24, 2010.
What about the “further evaluation of evidence”, Honorable Abbot?
May 20, PARRISH’s birthday! For those who cheer death sentences at all costs.
Should have just stayed in jail. What a waste of time and effort for everyone involved. He screwed everyone involved by making you waste your time. At least he will no longer be able to harass the Blounts.
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Every effort in life is a waste, as death is always peeping round the corner.
I regret the past 9 years, not because of our efforts, but because Michael had to endure death row and Tarrant county jail tortures, for one month’s release!
I won’t discuss your point of view. Let me say we did not meet the same man.
For me, Mike’s death is a collateral damage of Parrish’s crime. Freedom was overwhelming (I was told) and he behaved nervously.
If justice makes you comfortable, then, care about Parrish’s case.
“Tough on crime” ??? not tough on justice!
A waste of time?….
For MONTHS, his grand-daughter, 4 years old, asked everyday for her Grand’Pa Michael:”I will knock at every door until I find him!”
One day, believing her mom was sleeping, she grasped the telephone :”I want to speak to the President, at the White House, Texas (!).
I want him to help my grand’pa Michael to come and live with us!”
On September 2nd 2009,Michael phoned them his release. They immediatly drove from Missouri to spend his first week-end with him : his daughter, his son-in_law, his two grand-children,Haylee and Micah!
Michael died on Micah third birthday!
Poor little Haylee, with such a sorrow in her too young heart!
Even without the murder case, he deserved to be in prison. Here is his history before he was convicted for the bombing.
Prior Prison Record
TDCJ-ID #526889 on an 8-year sentence for 1 count of Burglary of a Habitation; 07/23/90 released on Parole; 09/13/91 returned from Parole with new conviction of 7 years concurrent for 1 count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle; 8/21/92 released on Parole; 3/1/94 returned from Parole with a new conviction of 5 years for Theft of Property $750/20,000; 07/21/95 released on Mandatory Supervision; 04/24/97 returned from Mandatory Supervision with new conviction and new number, remainder of sentence as TDCJ-ID #526889 is current; #782203 on a 5-year sentence for 1 count of Burglary of a Habitation; 06/09/97 released on Bench Warrant; 12/11/97 returned from Bench Warrant ; 01/06/98 released on Bench Warrant; 01/09/98 new commitments received sentence begin date 07/13/93 on a 9-year sentence for Burglary of a Habitation; 08/11/98 returned from Bench Warrant; 08/21/98 departed on Mandatory Supervision.
This guy was no saint and deserved to rot in jail for longer than he served.
But this was not the question.
The question was:who killed the Blounts.
You must not be happy, residing in Azle where most of the criminals who “testified” at Michael’s trial are living!
I agree with you: recidivists should stay in jail. And I don’t agree to sentence to death at all cost, arguing Like Parrish:”I don’t care if he did it or not. There was a crime and we need somebody convicted.” Texas judiciary world stinks! Think about it in November! much more useful than spitting on a dead man.
Well, this website looks way better than my aol blog. I think I should use WordPress aswell.Your thoughts on this Regards.
Next Sunday will be Haylee’s birthday.
Last year, her birthday gift was….his GRAND PA MICHAEL!
This whole story smelled from beginning to end.
From the death sentence conviction based on what at best can be described as unreliable and tainted evidence – a lack of motive, of physical evidence, of eye witnesses – culminating in the begrudging admission that the prosecutors had withheld significant exculpatory evidence resulting in an overturning of the conviction and the release of Mr Toney who had served 9 years on death row. Even if one insists on judging Mr Toney for past crimes, none of which involved any violence at all, there should be significant concern at what was allowed to happen, and even worse, that following the death of Mr Toney, no-one will be brought to account for what was clearly a case of corruption by Tarrant County prosecutors. While you jump up and down condemning Mr Toney I suggest you should be jumping even higher about a legal system that has been proved to be corrupt and no-one now needs to do a thing about it. I suppose one can hope that they or one of their friends or family are not the next ones caught up in a trial where Tarrant County wants a conviction at any cost.
They should have better look after Douglas Raymond BROWN, that chap of Azle who sold the ATF 2 briefcase bombs similar to the Blounts’, the Fort Worth Star Telegram said in January 1986.
I wonder why did the ATF needed TWO bombs?One for analysis, o.k., but the other one, in a BLACK briefcase?
BROWN was sentenced to 4 years of prison so, he should be found in the archives, shouldn’t he?
He is not!
WHERE is he?
Just wanted to let everyone know that the presence of alcohol on his death certificate has been removed he was NOT drinking and driving !! We love you Michael and miss you so much !! At least we can get some kind of justice for you people don’t believe that you can and did change but it’s still not completely over we’ll have the apology from the state next and your name 100% cleared !!!
You expect “apology from the state”, Tammy?
Good Lord! But Michael wrote me that he had to promise the state not to charge Meyer and Wynn (except Parrish) so he could go free!
Hep!Saturday 28 May will be the birthday of precious Michael PARRISH, guilty of attempted murder in court against Michael TONEY on the 28th of May 1999 in Tarrant County court.
Who is the more dangerous: Parrish, or Strauss-Kahn?
Who goes in criminal court?
And who doesn’t?
Look atJune 2nd, Chelsea RICHARDSON’s case. The new Tarrant county D.A. said,relying on Michel TONEY’s case, he will agree with any new hearing about death sentences obtained by PARRISH.
Parrish had “a private reprimand by the State bar of Texas”.(said “The Standdown Texas Project”)
Anyway, a newspaper asked Parrish his opinion about Richardson’case…
I’m a (Newbie)death penalty opponent activist(learning),and feeling anger thinking of his life,who was born less than 1 month earlier than me.
Christiane Durand, you are apparently one of the foreign death row groupies that slobbers all over the murdering animals on death row and who thinks all of them are innocent or otherwise was framed. Michael Toney was guilty as initially sentenced but managed through fluke to cheat the system that should have put him to death earlier. As you can see, everything that goes around, comes around and in the end, this murdering loser got his just punishment anyway.
Apparently, maybe. ButI’m NOT “one of the foreign D.R. groupies…etc”.I don’t think “all the murdering animals are innocent.” But I know some, in TX, don’t go behind bars because they are disguised in prosecutors.
I don’t fight the death penalty, because it is the Texans’ responsability, not mine.
I was a member of Michael TONEY’s Defense Committee, yes, because, reading his trial transcript, his innocence was obvious: NO evidence.
If he was not, why did Parrish need to cheat?
I tried to help Michael. But nobody else.The fight is over.
Well, you tell me I was wrong. WHY? give your reasons,I’m QUITE interested.And,how did you know Michael? As a neighbor? a lawyer? worse: a prosecutor? or…a cellmate?
As to consider this accident like a punishment, if you like the idea,so it is.
“What a good lesson,” isn’t it? Sure Michael will remember it!
Come on Roberto!
Holidays are over, Robert. What are you waiting for?
Give your reasons!
Roberto DIAZ, you say that Michael TONEY was guilty, so, YOU know the REASON for that bombing and WHO was intended to be the victim(s).Then, you should inform Honorable ABBOT, who seems to be still investigating….you, taxpayer.
Christiane, How have you been? It has been a long time since I have heard from you. I miss the photos and letters. Michael even sent me flowers
We were to meet soon for lunch, soon didn’t come soon enough, then he was gone. I am very sad about that. I can’t believe some of the things people write on here. they do not know Michael or the whole situation, please do not let them get to you. Michael may have done bad things in his past but he did not commit murder! You believed in him and for that he loved you very much. Please contact me soon! mosleyj@me.com is my email address. Take care, Jacci
Hello Jacci! Are you still in Cherokee county? Do you know Tammy?
It’s good to hear from you, we, the supporters, feel so lost without Michael!Several say:”he was of our family.”
With Rodolphe and Thierry, we meet from time to time, to hold together.I cannot say I’m well.Everyday life should be alright without this sorrow.I sleep a lot, then, I do nothing, just grieving.Not about Michael, he has no problem, at last! but probably because I’m now aimless.And so disappointed not to welcome him here in paris
What about you?
Christiane, so good to hear back from you! I still have my place in Cherokee County, Rusk, but I travel with work. I am now in Evansville Indiana. No I do not know Tammy. I know what you mean about feeling lost. I should have made time to meet with him, I am sorry that I didn’t. I am also sorry for the sorrow that you all feel, but you must believe he is in a better place with the Lord. I wish he had gotten to go to Paris, I know it weighs heavy on the heart that he is no longer with us. Michael would not want you to suffer and dwell on his passing, he would want you to live and rejoice that he was finally freed from that place and is completely free now with the Lord. I hope and pray the New Year brings you peace and joy!
Hello Jacci
What about your kids? they are grown ups now?
Tammy,43, is the mother of Michael’s son, Jeromy, 24.She lives in Jacksonville, like her parents, and with her 3 daughters. Jeromy is married and the proud father of a tiny girl,two years “old” next month. They live in Florida.
Michael’s elder daughter, Hope, 25, is the mother of two, a girl, 6 and a boy 4 and she is expecting another daughter soon. They live in Missouri
Kimberlyn, 23, lives in Wisconsin, with husband and son, 6.
Next Tuesday, January 24, we’ll meet, Rodolphe, Thierry, me and 3 other supporters in a pizzeria here, at Robinson. We’ll speak of this unforgettable story.
Kisses
MARCUS, of REDDING, where are you? Lately
I happened to read your message about Michael, dated June 22, 2009. I don’t understand how I could miss it at that time! WORSE! I made a wrong click, and it disappeared! I regret it so much.
You wrote how this guy, from death row, with his cellphone, found a motel, fast foods and a job for you!and you were so angry about the state and its cellphone charge!
I don’t know what happened with this ridiculous attempt.Neither do I know if Honorable ABBOT is still investigating about Michael guilt or innocence (He did not mention investigations for the Blounts. Their problem is Michael! not the Blounts!).
Hello Christiane,
and my daughter Chelsea will be 19 in April. she will be moving up to Indiana with me here shortly. and my youngest son Brenden is 17 and about to graduate high school.. i am so very proud of all my kids. I actually found Jeromy on Facebook, I sent him a message and talked to him a few times. I am sure it is strange to hear from someone who knew your dad and out of the bue is contacting you. He favors Michael in his pictures. I miss my dear sweet friend. Hope all is well with you.
Yes my kids are jus about all grown up now. My oldest son Michael Joe is 21 and has a son that turned 2 Dec. 22, he is such a joy
Hugs and Kisses <3