Texas Execution of Robert Roberson Halted by State’s Highest Criminal Court
AUSTIN, TX – The scheduled execution of Texas prisoner Robert Roberson has been blocked by the state’s Court of Criminal Appeals, just days before he was set to receive a lethal injection for the 2002 death of his 16-month-old daughter, Nikki. The court issued a stay of execution Wednesday, ordering a review of claims that newly discovered evidence casts doubt on the conviction.
The case, which has drawn national attention, centers on questions surrounding the cause of Nikki Roberson’s death and whether Roberson’s autism spectrum disorder – diagnosed in 2018, years after the trial – impacted the examination.The stay comes after Roberson’s defense team argued that evolving medical understanding of infant deaths, coupled with the belated recognition of Roberson’s neurodevelopmental condition, warrants a re-examination of the evidence.
Robert roberson was originally convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 2003. Authorities believed Nikki died from blunt-force trauma and being shaken, but Roberson’s defense now contends that other medical conditions could have contributed to her death. Former Anderson County Sheriff Greg Wharton, who arrested Roberson, has stated he was unaware of Nikki’s medical history and Roberson’s autism at the time of the investigation, noting that Roberson’s lack of visible emotion didn’t raise red flags given his later diagnosis.
Texas attorney General Ken Paxton has consistently maintained Roberson’s guilt, publicly asserting that Roberson “murdered his daughter by beating her so brutally that she ultimately died.” Paxton’s office took over the case from the Anderson County District Attorney’s Office earlier this year.
The Court of Criminal Appeals has not yet set a date for further proceedings. The future of the case hinges on the court’s assessment of the new evidence and it’s potential impact on the original conviction.
