Time of Death

6. The Discovery

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals issued a stay in Gary Sutton's intellectual disability hearing, and Governor Bill Lee has granted Tony Caruthers a temporary reprieve from execution following a failed execution attempt on 5/21/26. Then, we go back in time to some very interesting details about what Tommy Griffin didn't have with him when he was found in Walland on February 24, 1992. * ACLU Files Lawsuit [https://www.aclu.org/cases/tony-von-carruthers-v-state-of-tennessee] * Bill Lee Tuesday Statement [https://wreg.com/news/local/governor-lee-says-he-will-not-stop-carruthers-execution/] * Riverbend Maximum Security Institution [https://www.tn.gov/correction/state-prisons/state-prison-list/riverbend-maximum-security-institution.html] * Bill Lee / Tennessee Department of Corrections Thursday Statement [https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/2026/5/21/gov--lee-grants-temporary-reprieve-for-tony-von-carruthers.html] * Witnesses Speak after Failed Execution [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h3811P0k1U] * Tennessean report on the failed execution [https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2026/05/21/tony-carruthers-execution-stay/90101223007/] * Commercial Appeal report on the failed execution [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/05/21/tony-carruthers-execution-tennessee-on-hold/90196934007/] Buy Beth a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/gg1prc3lsl] Stay connected with Beth's reporting and follow along as the stories unfold. Follow us on your favorite platform. Beth Braden: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/bethbraden.journalist] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bethbraden.journalist?igsh=MXVwNnE1dm52OHA4NA==] | Threads [https://www.threads.com/@bethbraden.journalist?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@bethjbraden?_r=1&_t=ZT-95vgma1weuU] Time of Death Podcast: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/timeofdeathpodcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/timeofdeath.podcast?igsh=dG1lZjgyMDY2cnpu] | Threads [https://www.threads.com/@timeofdeath.podcast?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@timeofdeathpodcast?_r=1&_t=ZT-95vgjC7a6j0] Find us at www.timeofdeathpod.com [http://www.timeofdeathpod.com]

5. Another Saturday Night

Connie Branam sat up nearly all night after her brother's trailer burned to the ground on February 21, 1992. On February 22, she began looking for him, and she ended up back at Howie's Hideaway in Maryville with Gary Sutton and James Dellinger. Episode Links ☕Buy Beth a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/gg1prc3lsl] 📰 WBIR - James Dellinger Dies in Prison [https://www.wbir.com/article/news/crime/tdoc-inmate-on-death-row-since-1996-for-first-degree-murder-in-blount-co-dies-in-prison-on-january-16-2023/51-2d3662fc-6c2f-4080-8f6e-a08feb03fd95] 🧑‍⚖️ Tennessee Supreme Court Order for Gary Sutton's Execution [https://tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/docs/Order%20resetting%20execution%20%283%29-%20Gary%20Wayne%20Sutton.pdf] 💉 Tennessee's Lethal Injection Protocol Manual [https://tcog.info/wp-content/uploads/Protocol-01082025_Redacted.pdf] ⏳ Timeline of Events at the Time of Death Podcast Website [https://timeofdeathpod.com/a-timeline-of-events/] Stay connected with Beth's reporting and follow along as the stories unfold. Follow us on your favorite platform. Beth Braden: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/bethbraden.journalist] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bethbraden.journalist?igsh=MXVwNnE1dm52OHA4NA==] | Threads [https://www.threads.com/@bethbraden.journalist?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@bethjbraden?_r=1&_t=ZT-95vgma1weuU] Time of Death Podcast: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/timeofdeathpodcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/timeofdeath.podcast?igsh=dG1lZjgyMDY2cnpu] | Threads [https://www.threads.com/@timeofdeath.podcast?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@timeofdeathpodcast?_r=1&_t=ZT-95vgjC7a6j0] Find us at www.timeofdeathpod.com [http://www.timeofdeathpod.com]

4. Diverging Timelines

Alcoa, Tennessee, police officers find Tommy Griffin shirtless and beaten on the night of February 21, 1992, and arrest him for public intoxication. The state's theory of the case diverges as it maintains that it was Gary and James who beat Tommy that night while Gary and James say they were already back home in the holler. Episode Links * 🎧 True Crimecast Episode on Gary Sutton [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/time-of-death-gary-sutton/id1307664642?i=1000766396612] * 📰 WSMV Article about Tony Caruthers [https://www.wsmv.com/2026/05/05/attorneys-tony-carruthers-man-death-row-murders-3-people-will-ask-tn-governor-clemency-citing-egregious-injustices-his-case/] * 🖋️ Petition for Tennessee's Governor Bill Lee to review Gary Sutton's case [https://www.justiceforgarywaynesutton.com/petition] * ⏳ Timeline of Events at the Time of Death Podcast Website [https://timeofdeathpod.com/a-timeline-of-events/] * 🌍 Google Map of Places of Note - Including the changes to Alcoa Highway [https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1-pmeSbTbO61EOjS5KDe2aF539oLO37E&usp=sharing] * 🎥 Beth, Carolyn, and Amy go to Bluff Heights Road [https://youtu.be/ObkAW9cokCU] * ☕Buy Beth a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/gg1prc3lsl] Stay connected with Beth's reporting and follow along as the stories unfold. Follow us on your favorite platform. * Beth Braden: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/bethbraden.journalist] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bethbraden.journalist?igsh=MXVwNnE1dm52OHA4NA==] | Threads [https://www.threads.com/@bethbraden.journalist?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@bethjbraden?_r=1&_t=ZT-95vgma1weuU] * Time of Death Podcast: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/timeofdeathpodcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/timeofdeath.podcast?igsh=dG1lZjgyMDY2cnpu] | Threads [https://www.threads.com/@timeofdeath.podcast?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@timeofdeathpodcast?_r=1&_t=ZT-95vgjC7a6j0] * Find us at www.timeofdeathpod.com [http://www.timeofdeathpod.com]

3. Finally Friday

With seven criminal charges dismissed, Gary Sutton's weekend was looking up, and he had a full day to hang around with his best friend, Tommy Griffin, and his Uncle James Dellinger. Before midnight, Tommy would be in jail and his trailer would be a smoldering heap. Episode Links ❓Beth questions trailer fire [https://www.facebook.com/61579431434227/posts/pfbid07JJWymo2sAnNN6qFt4s5EJzP1pKGML8BU6KQGtRqPyr3TXeDzF5JyEiVSUQyVjxQl/] investigation 🔎 Wondering what it takes [https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid054fp9yHT3xvEfQkn2TwFXTeVSCUqqirxpikiqzod35ePmw3sPyiZ3L1jWqbFetPTl&id=61579431434227] to investigate a decades old case? ☕Buy Beth a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/gg1prc3lsl] Stay connected with Beth's reporting and follow along as the stories unfold. Follow us on your favorite platform. Beth Braden: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/bethbraden.journalist] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bethbraden.journalist?igsh=MXVwNnE1dm52OHA4NA==] | Threads [https://www.threads.com/@bethbraden.journalist?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@bethjbraden?_r=1&_t=ZT-95vgma1weuU] Time of Death Podcast: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/timeofdeathpodcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/timeofdeath.podcast?igsh=dG1lZjgyMDY2cnpu] | Threads [https://www.threads.com/@timeofdeath.podcast?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@timeofdeathpodcast?_r=1&_t=ZT-95vgjC7a6j0] Find us at www.timeofdeathpod.com [http://www.timeofdeathpod.com]

2. The Bells that Tolled Before

Things were tense in the holler on Bluff Heights in the months leading up to the death of Tommy Griffin and Connie Branum, but Gary Sutton finally got some good news. 📱 Text or call 988 if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts - 988lifeline.org [http://988lifeline.org] 📸 Beth pays her respects at Martin Justus Cemetery [https://www.instagram.com/p/DXNuD92Ee3K/?igsh=bmp3c2ZuY2JkeTYx] 📃 Atkins v. Virginia [https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/536/304/] overview & opinions - Justia 🗞️ "Nashville DA says death row inmate should not face execution due to intellectual disability" [https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2022/03/11/nashville-district-attorney-death-row-intellectually-disabled-byron-black-should-not-face-execution/6989413001/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z1119xxe1119xxv000012&gca-ft=217&gca-ds=sophi&fbclid=IwdGRjcAReTUVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR4R5Lo06ybYL19TiqDSIzEvfgcO4dlop5hwq59i9TQVeOiRPkm-uzXuj80Jpw_aem_oMSnyBwOwKyy1S6AUQP6pA] - The Tennessean, March 11, 2022 ☕Buy Beth a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/gg1prc3lsl] Stay connected with Beth's reporting and follow along as the stories unfold. Follow us on your favorite platform. Beth Braden: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/bethbraden.journalist] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bethbraden.journalist?igsh=MXVwNnE1dm52OHA4NA==] | Threads [https://www.threads.com/@bethbraden.journalist?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@bethjbraden?_r=1&_t=ZT-95vgma1weuU] Time of Death Podcast: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/timeofdeathpodcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/timeofdeath.podcast?igsh=dG1lZjgyMDY2cnpu] | Threads [https://www.threads.com/@timeofdeath.podcast?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@timeofdeathpodcast?_r=1&_t=ZT-95vgjC7a6j0] Find us at www.timeofdeathpod.com [http://www.timeofdeathpod.com]