Texas Judge Halts Execution of Robert Roberson After Detective Recants in Shaken Baby Case

Oct 17, 2024, 12:19 PM

Robert Roberson, a Texas death row inmate convicted in the 2002 death of his two-year-old daughter based on a now-debunked shaken baby syndrome diagnosis, was scheduled for execution at 6 p.m. on October 17. New evidence and expert testimony have cast significant doubt on his guilt, with medical experts asserting that his daughter likely died of natural causes, such as viral pneumonia. The lead detective in his case, Brian Wharton, has publicly recanted his testimony and is urging Governor Greg Abbott to halt the execution. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene. However, a Travis County judge granted a temporary restraining order, and the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence issued an unprecedented subpoena for Roberson to testify, effectively delaying the execution pending further hearings. A bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers, legal experts, and activists continue to call on Governor Abbott to grant a stay of execution or clemency, citing flawed forensic science and due process concerns.