Texas Court Pauses Execution of Robert Roberson Amid Claims of Innocence
The execution of Robert Roberson, who was to be the first person in the U.S. executed for a murder conviction tied to shaken baby syndrome, has been h...
Texas Man Faces Execution Amid Controversial Child Abuse Case
• Crime, Politics, Robert Roberson, execution, death penalty, shaken baby syndrome, innocence, Texas, lawmakers, legal proceedings, autism, child abuse, pneumonia, Nikki Curtis, rtwnews.com, Texas Man Faces Execution Amid Controversial Child Abuse Case
Robert Roberson prepares for his scheduled execution while maintaining his innocence in the controversial death of his daughter, challenging the legitimacy of shaken baby syndrome.
LIVINGSTON, Texas (RTW News) — Robert Roberson remains calm as he anticipates his impending execution, potentially marking him as the first U.S. citizen to be executed for a murder conviction related to shaken baby syndrome. Scheduled for October 16, 2023, Roberson continues to assert his innocence regarding the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, and expresses hope for another stay of execution.
“I’m not going to stress out,” Roberson, 58, told reporters during an interview from the Polunsky Unit in Livingston. “I know God has it, and He’s in control.” His conviction, stemming from claims that he shook Nikki, leading to severe head trauma, remains a subject of contention among medical experts and lawmakers.
Roberson argues that his daughter did not die from abuse but from complications related to pneumonia, asserting that his trial was based on outdated and flawed scientific evidence. Legal experts believe that his undiagnosed autism influenced perceptions of his parenting, painting him as guilty, while some family members maintain that Nikki died from abuse.
Supporters are mobilizing once again to halt the execution, with a coalition of both liberal and conservative figures advocating for Roberson's case. Amid growing concern over the legitimacy of shaken baby syndrome, advocates are pressing Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other courts to reconsider the evidence in light of Roberson’s claims and renewed public interest.
Roberson’s story has captured national attention, with prominent figures and rallies calling for justice. In describing his experience, Roberson remarked, “It was bad enough losing my little girl. And then when they accused me, I couldn’t believe it.” With growing skepticism about the conviction's basis, Roberson remains hopeful for a chance to prove his innocence.