Ep 1. Mother vs. Texas

Death Row Stories season 2 episode 1, titled "Mother vs. Texas," is a gripping account of a mother's desperate battle to save her son from a wrongful conviction and an unjust death sentence. The episode takes us deep into the heart of Texas, where a young man named Edward Graf Jr. was accused of murdering his stepsons by setting their house on fire.

The episode begins by taking us back in time to the night of the tragic fire. We learn that Edward's stepsons, Jason and Joby Graf, died when their home in Hewitt, Texas, went up in flames in 1986. Edward, who had been putting the boys to bed, managed to escape the blaze. However, as he emerged from the burning building, he was met with the horrific sight of his two stepsons lying lifeless on the lawn outside.

As the episode unfolds, we see how the investigators quickly turned their attention to Edward as the primary suspect in the boys' deaths. They claimed that he had set the fire in a fit of rage, although there was no concrete evidence to back up this theory. Despite his protests of innocence, Edward was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death.

This is where we meet Edward's mother, who becomes the driving force behind his fight for justice. She cannot fathom how her son, whom she knows to be innocent, could be facing execution for a crime he did not commit. She hires a team of lawyers and experts to challenge the conviction and prove Edward's innocence.

The episode follows the struggles that Edward's mother and her legal team face as they fight against the Texas justice system that is determined to execute Edward. They explore the forensic evidence that was used to convict Edward, highlighting the flaws and inconsistencies in the prosecution's case. We also see how Edward's family and friends rally around him, never giving up hope that he will be exonerated.

Time is running out for Edward. As his execution date approaches, his mother and her team make a last-ditch effort to persuade the courts to review the case. They petition the governor for clemency and take the case all the way to the Supreme Court. But will their efforts be enough to save Edward from the lethal injection chamber?

Overall, "Mother vs. Texas" is a gripping and emotional episode that highlights the flaws and injustices of the American justice system. It tells the story of a mother's love and determination to fight for her son, no matter the odds. Whether you are opposed to or in favor of the death penalty, this episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in true crime and justice.