John,

I joined Mr. Roberson’s legal team, along with fellow Innocence Project attorney Jane Pucher, because there is significant risk that an innocent man could be executed for a crime that never happened.

In 2002, Robert Roberson’s two-year-old, chronically ill daughter, Nikki, was sick with a high fever and suffered a short fall from bed. She tragically died from a combination of undiagnosed pneumonia, the accidental fall, and the impact of respiratory-suppressing medications that she had been prescribed. 

Hospital staff did not know that Mr. Roberson had autism and judged his response to his daughter’s grave condition as lacking emotion. Mr. Roberson was prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to death under the now-discredited Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) — and he’s been fighting to prove his innocence ever since.

Take a moment to read more about Robert’s case and the scientifically unsound argument presented against him, and then share his story with your friends and family online.

The prosecution based its case on the hypothesis that Nikki’s death was caused by SBS — a condition that was never scientifically validated and the premises of which have been discredited by actual science.

At that time, it was believed that whenever a child presented with a “triad” of symptoms -- brain swelling, bleeding under the dural matter of the brain (subdural hematoma) and retinal hemorrhaging -- SBS could be presumed. We now know Nikki suffered these symptoms due to oxygen deprivation caused by her pneumonia, the medications she received, and her fall. To date, at least 32 parents and caregivers in 18 states have been exonerated after being wrongfully convicted under the shaken baby hypothesis.

While the State has not yet sought a new execution date, Mr. Roberson’s life is still in jeopardy every single day he remains on death row. He never had a true chance at justice — but we’re trying to rectify this. 

Mr. Roberson’s innocence case is attracting growing and widespread support from eminent scientists, doctors, faith leaders, innocence groups, former federal judges, best-selling novelist John Grisham, and the lead detective who testified for the prosecution, who now believes he contributed to an innocent person being sent to death row.

We’re going to fight to ensure that Texas doesn't make a tragic, irreversible mistake, and we need you to help spread the word about this case.

Will you read more about Mr. Roberson’s story and then share it with your networks on social media?

Thank you for your support,

Vanessa Potkin
Director of Special Litigation
Innocence Project