In a dramatic last-minute development, a Texas judge has temporarily halted the execution of Robert Roberson, a death-row inmate who was scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on Thursday. The reprieve came just hours before Roberson, 57, was set to face his fate for the alleged killing of his two-year-old daughter more than two decades ago.
Roberson’s case has drawn national attention and outrage, as his supporters, including the lead detective on the case, have long maintained his innocence. They argue that his conviction was based on the now-discredited theory of “shaken baby syndrome” and that his daughter actually died of pneumonia that progressed to sepsis.
Lawmakers Rally to Roberson’s Defense
In a rare show of bipartisan support, a committee of more than 80 Texas lawmakers, including at least 30 Republicans, had asked the parole board and Governor Greg Abbott to halt the execution. They even went so far as to subpoena Roberson to testify next week in a last-ditch effort to prove his innocence.
Shaken Baby Syndrome Under Scrutiny
Central to Roberson’s case is the controversial diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome, a condition in which a baby or small child is allegedly shaken repeatedly, causing their brain to hit the inside of their skull. However, the American Association of Pediatrics stated in 2020 that the syndrome had been “misinterpreted” by legal and health authorities, leading to potential misdiagnoses and wrongful convictions.
“It wasn’t a crime committed,” Roberson said in an interview with CNN. “I was falsely, wrongly convicted of a crime – they said it was a crime, but it wasn’t no crime and stuff because I had a sick little girl, you know?”
A Father’s Nightmare
Roberson’s ordeal began on January 31, 2002, when he brought his daughter Nikki Curtis to a hospital in Palestine, Texas. He told doctors that she was ill with a fever and had fallen from a bed. Despite his efforts to save her, Curtis was pronounced dead, and doctors suspected abuse based on her symptoms and Roberson’s allegedly unemotional demeanor.
However, Roberson’s attorneys contend that his daughter’s death stemmed from severe viral and bacterial pneumonia, exacerbated by medication that is now considered improper for children. They argue that the hospital staff’s quick determination of shaken baby syndrome amounted to a tragic misdiagnosis.
Autism Diagnosis Sheds New Light
Further complicating matters, Roberson was diagnosed with autism in 2018, which his supporters say explains his seemingly emotionless behavior at the hospital. Autism advocacy organizations have joined the chorus of voices calling for a re-examination of his case.
“There was no crime scene, no forensic evidence. It was just three words: shaken baby syndrome. Without them, he would be a free man today,” Brian Wharton, the lead detective who testified against Roberson, told the Guardian last year.
Governor Abbott Faces Pressure
Despite the efforts of Roberson’s attorneys and supporters, the Texas pardons and parole board failed to recommend clemency to Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday. Abbott, a Republican, rarely grants such petitions, but pressure is mounting for him to intervene in this case.
If the execution ultimately proceeds, Roberson would become the first person in the United States to be put to death in connection with a shaken baby syndrome conviction. His case has once again brought the issues of wrongful convictions, the death penalty, and the need for criminal justice reform to the forefront of national debate.
As the clock ticks down on Roberson’s fate, the eyes of the nation are on Texas, waiting to see if justice will be served or if an innocent man will pay the ultimate price for a crime he maintains he did not commit.
