With pro-abortion propaganda so heavily pushed in Hollywood since Roe’s overturning, it’s been awhile since they took on another important pro-life issue, the death penalty. But that changed on the latest episode of FBI: Most Wanted when they made their position quite obvious with their usual tactic of heavily dramatizing the rarest cases to play on viewers’ heartstrings.
As a pro-life, Christian conservative, I am conflicted on the issue. Capital punishment was permitted in the Bible, and I understand it can be a strong deterrent, thus saving lives. Murderers aren’t innocent like pre-born babies, either. They make a conscious decision to risk their life via the death penalty when they take a life.
However, as demonstrated in the episode “Bonne Terre,” there are instances when innocent people are killed. Though rare, it’s still concerning, because even one innocent life ended is one too many.
Not surprisingly, the show made it into a right versus left issue, stating Missouri is a “conservative state.” So, of course the judges haven’t cared that Emmett (Benny Elledge), the man falsely convicted, has a limited mental capacity due to a traumatic brain injury and recanted his coerced confession made without a lawyer present.
His new lawyer Abby (Susan Misner) explains the dire situation to FBI agents Remy (Dylan McDermott) and Hana (Keisha Castle-Hughes) who are working to solve three new murders possibly connected to Emmett’s case:
Remy: What can you tell us about 'em?
Abby: Um, well, this is Tina on the left. And that's Ashley. She lost a part of her leg in a skiing accident when she was in high school. They were both seniors at Thornton.
Remy: How were they murdered?
Abby: Well, the girls had a party at their house one night, and about a dozen boys showed up. There was lots of drinking, and the party broke up around midnight. Later that night, someone came back and abducted and killed them both.
Hana: Your client.
Abby: So they say. Emmett was the landlord's handyman. So, he knew the girls well. He was around the house a lot. He bought them the alcohol. He even drank with them for a while. His DNA was on Tina when they found her.
Remy: What about Ashley?
Abby: Ashley's body was never recovered.
Hana: So how did they convict him of her murder?
Abby: Because Emmett confessed, allegedly.
Remy: Was he coerced?
Abby: Oh, yeah. Absolutely. He got hit in the head when he was 16. He has a limited mental capacity. He had no lawyer. He was scared. He was willing to say whatever those detectives wanted for an orange soda and a ham sandwich.
Remy: Did this come out in trial?
Abby: Not as much as it should have. I mean, he had a public defender. Emmett later recanted, which is when I took the case. And I have been making the mental defect and coercion arguments on appeal for seven years. But Missouri is a really conservative state. And no one will listen. His execution is set for tomorrow.
Remy: Tomorrow?
Abby: Yeah. 6:00 P.M.
Hana: Well, that's 26 hours from now.
Even AI notices the agenda, as the system the MRC uses automatically suggested the title, “Murder and Injustice in a Conservative State” for this clip.
With time running out, Hana rushes to find more evidence in the hopes of proving Emmett’s innocence. Abby and Remy stay back with Emmett, whose child-like demeanor makes him a very sympathetic character - propaganda at its finest:
Remy: Do you know what's happening, Emmett?
Emmett: Yeah. They denied my appeal again.
Remy: I mean what's happening... Next?
Emmett: Why do we kill people to prove that it's wrong to kill people? I read that on a bumper sticker once.
Remy: Except you didn't kill anyone, right?
Emmett: No. I didn't. Ashley and Tina were my friends. They liked me.
Abby: Yeah.
Guard: It's time.
Emmett: I thought you said it was at 6:00?
Abby: It is. We just have to take a short ride to another prison in Bonne Terre.
Emmett: That's where they put me to sleep? Okay. I'm ready.
I’m sure the writers thought viewers would marvel over the “profound” quote and maybe even be swayed to become anti-capital punishment if they weren’t already. Except the point of the death penalty isn’t to prove anything. It’s to deter people from committing murder and to provide justice for victims.
Despite finding mountains of evidence proving Emmett’s innocence, including capturing the real killer Curt Rowan (Nicholas Michael McGovern) and finding the second body which has foreign DNA inside of it that doesn’t match Emmett’s, the judge still refuses to stay his execution. Of course. Dang those mean, old conservatives!
In an unexpected turn, however, the show portrayed a Catholic priest positively and handled the quoting of Scripture respectfully. Quite shocking considering Hollywood’s long record of bashing Christians and Christianity:
Priest: This is not the end of your journey, but the beginning. You're on this journey to meet your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Emmett: So, God will save me?
Priest: Have you accepted him in your heart?
Emmett: I have.
Priest: Then God will save you.
Warden: I need you to change into these, Emmett.
Emmett: Diapers. What are these for? I don't have to go to the bathroom.
Abby: It's just something they make you do, Emmett, okay? We'll give you your privacy.
Remy: Barnes, tell me you have him.
Barnes: We do, but he's asked for a lawyer.
Remy: The execution is happening.
Barnes: He does not care.
Remy: Jab a swab down his throat and get his DNA to the lab right away.
Barnes: ERT's on their way with a kit. They're minutes away.
Remy: We don't have minutes. They're about to walk him into the death chamber.
Remy: We're doing the best we can, Remy. Wait a second. I see them. They're pulling in now.
Remy: Tell them to hurry.
Emmett: I thought you said God would save me.
Priest: It's okay, Emmett. Have faith.
Emmett: What are you doing? Ow. Ow!
Priest: God is calling you home, son.
Tech: I'm going to try the other arm.
Emmett: Uh, that hurts. You're hurting me.
Priest: Remember what we talked about? That Bible verse?
Emmett: The Lord is my shepherd. I shall…
Both: Want not.
Emmett: He restores my soul. He leads me through paths of righteousness. Ow!
Perhaps Hollywood is hoping to appeal to Christians who support the death penalty, so they were smart enough not to offend them this time.
After failing to place an IV in Emmett because his veins are small and difficult, the warden announces they’re doing a “cutdown” procedure, seemingly without anesthesia. The procedure makes Emmett scream even louder in agony and fear as his mother and a sister to one of the victims wait with frustration in the gallery:
Victim’s Sister: It's been 47 minutes. Why aren't they opening the curtain?
Emmett’s Mother: Something's wrong. They can't do this to my boy. It's not right.
Victim’s Sister: It's called justice. After what he did to my sister, I hope it takes forever. Let him feel the pain.
Abby: Anything?
Remy: ERT has Rowan's DNA typed. They're waiting for the lab to match it against the foreign DNA in question. What's happening here?
Abby: I'm not sure. Oh, Warden, what is happening?
Warden: We can't find a vein. I've asked for a cutdown.
Remy: What?
Warden: It's a simple medical procedure.
Abby: No, that is not true. It is not.
Warden: Step back, please.
Doctor: Here you are, Warden.
Remy: Wait, you're gonna cut him open?
Warden: It's protocol, Agent Scott.
Abby: Is he gonna have an anesthetic?
Warden: Please, just take a seat in the gallery. All right? The fight is over.
Remy: No, it's not.
Warden: I've got to do my job.
When Rowan’s DNA comes back as matching the foreign DNA in the second victim, Remy and Abby call the governor to appeal for clemency:
Remy: He kept her prosthetic as a trophy of his kill. And we just got confirmation that his DNA is a 100% match to the unidentified DNA in Tina Adams' body. Rowan killed those girls. Not Emmett Allen.
Abby: Ashley and Tina were innocent victims. Please just don't let another innocent person die.
Governor: I have to admit, I'm no longer fully convinced of Emmett Allen's guilt. Let me speak with Warden Nesbit. Halt the execution.
Warden: Are you sure, sir?
Governor: We'll explore clemency in later hearings. I'm sure Emmett's lawyer will waste no time filing a motion.
Abby: Yes, sir. And thank you.
Warden: Get him up. Bring in that microphone. Get ready to open the curtain. The governor has granted clemency. The execution is off.
Remy: See?
Mother: Oh, my God! Thank you, God, for my baby's life. Oh, and you too, of course. Of course.
Emmett: I love you, Mama.
Mother: Oh, I love you, too, my baby boy.
As a mom of a grown son who will always be my baby boy, I have to admit that scene hit hard. That’s what Hollywood’s “propaganda machine” is supposed to do.
However, since innocent people have been wrongly executed, it’s a valid concern. It just would be nice if Hollywood would entertain without politics. But we all know that’s a lost cause.
Kudos, though, for showing that prayers can be answered miraculously just when we least expect it. But don’t think Christians will soon forget how they’ve been treated by Hollywood.
