Introduction to an Unlikely Friendship
While searching for story ideas, news cameraman Rhys Williams encountered an article titled: 'Welshman on death row.'
This discovery led to an unexpected 20-year friendship with convicted murderer Roderick Orme, which developed through the exchange of hundreds of letters and emails.
Recently, Williams traveled thousands of miles to meet Orme in person for the first time.
Orme, 64, is currently awaiting execution for the murder and rape of Lisa Redd. However, Lisa Redd's sister has expressed that she will "never forgive" Orme or Williams for their friendship.
Initial Contact and Correspondence
Orme, a US citizen with family roots in Llandudno, north Wales, was seeking a Welsh pen pal when Williams reached out to ask if Orme would participate in a TV programme.
After a few months without response, Orme declined the filming request but welcomed continued correspondence.
Williams, now a BBC cameraman, reflected on this initial exchange during an interview on BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Ginio.
"I could have stopped it there, because he was no use to me then."
Despite this, Williams chose to continue writing to Orme for over 20 years, not wanting to be "churlish."
He described their conversations as covering everyday topics such as sports, music, and politics.
"We just talk about nothing of note - sports, music, politics.
I've travelled a lot, he's travelled a lot - before he was sentenced, so we have a lot of things to talk about."
Details of the Crime
Orme was convicted of the rape and murder of his ex-partner, Lisa Redd, whom he strangled in a Florida motel in 1992 while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
When their correspondence began, Williams was unaware of the specifics of Orme's crime.
"I knew if he was on death row then he'd done something awful.
I didn't ask much about what he had done. I thought he had enough on his plate, stuck in a cell every day, without me starting to ask him what he'd done, and stoking the fire."
Williams also maintained a strict policy of not sharing personal details about his life.
"I made a crazy policy of not saying anything about my personal life.
Nothing about the fact that I was a husband and a father, and by now, a grandfather."
Meeting in Person
Williams eventually flew 4,300 miles (6,900 km) to meet Orme at the Union Correctional Institution in Florida for an S4C programme titled Fy Frind ar Death Row (My Friend on Death Row).
"I always said I wanted to meet him - so it was nice to reach that point," said Williams.
Being in a room with prisoners dressed in orange jumpsuits was a sobering experience, highlighting the gravity of their crimes.
"These are incredibly bad men," acknowledged Williams. "Everyone [there] had killed a lot - and that was an odd thing to accept."
The two met twice during Williams' week-long stay in Florida, with the second meeting being notably affected by the time spent there.
Orme has undergone two appeals against his death sentence and appears to have accepted his punishment as a way to "do right" by Redd's family, though Williams noted that Orme "still hasn't 100% admitted" responsibility for the crime.
Meeting the Victim's Family
As part of the programme, Williams met Carol Atwell, sister of Lisa Redd.
Atwell recounted the days leading up to her sister's murder.
"He stopped us the whole time we were out that Sunday.
He showed up at her house to see her – I told him: 'Lose her number, she doesn't want to see you'.
He said, 'if I can't have her, no one can'. I said, 'what does that mean?' and he said: 'Take it as you will'. She was dead two days later."
Atwell is among many who have criticized Williams' friendship with Orme. Williams described her as "incredibly angry and unforgiving" regarding their correspondence.
Reflections and Continuing Correspondence
Upon returning to Wales, Williams reflected on his experience and stated his intention to continue writing to Orme despite the criticism.
"I think it's within everyone to hit rock bottom and to find themselves in a big hole like that," said Williams after filming concluded.
"I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility for anyone," he added, referencing Orme's drug use on the night of the murder and how "everything went wrong."
Williams emphasized the friendship they have built over the years.
"I've been writing to him and we've built some kind of friendship.
I don't really want that to change."
