The Plea of Innocence: Robert Roberson's Fight Against Execution

Wed Oct 22 2025 04:39:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As Robert Roberson awaits a possible execution tied to a controversial shaken baby syndrome conviction, he maintains his innocence and reflects on the tragedy of losing his daughter. Advocates rally on his behalf amid claims of flawed evidence and systemic failures.

Robert Roberson, convicted in 2003 for the death of his daughter, faces execution next week. Despite his insistence of innocence and mounting evidence questioning the validity of the shaken baby syndrome diagnosis, Texas officials uphold the verdict. Roberson's case has sparked significant public discourse, uniting diverse groups from various backgrounds for his cause.

A Texas man, Robert Roberson, is on the brink of execution, facing lethal injection for the murder of his daughter in a case that many are now questioning amid growing concerns over the validity of the evidence that convicted him. Convicted in 2003 for her death, Roberson has consistently professed his innocence, arguing that his daughter was not a victim of abuse but died due to medical complications.

As Roberson, now 58, prepares for a possible execution on October 16, he reflects on the loss of his daughter, Nikki Curtis, who died when she was just two years old. ‘I think about her every day, every single day,’ he shared during a recent interview, expressing hope in a last-ditch effort to prevent his execution.

Roberson was initially sentenced based on claims that he violently shook his daughter, causing severe head trauma linked to shaken baby syndrome, a diagnosis which has become controversial in courts across the country. Some medical experts argue that the diagnosis is founded on outdated science and has contributed to wrongful convictions.

Supporters of Roberson, including Texas lawmakers from both ends of the political spectrum and other advocates, are rallying against the execution, citing flaws in the case against him. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other officials insist that the evidence supports a conviction for child abuse, while Roberson argues that his expressions during police interrogations — notably his lack of emotional response — were misinterpreted due to his undiagnosed autism.

‘I never shook her. I never hit her,’ Roberson stated passionately, asserting his role as a caring father trying to navigate parenthood while dealing with personal trials, and he hopes to overturn his conviction and regain his freedom. As the clock ticks down to his execution date, supporters are calling for intervention from Governor Greg Abbott to halt the impending execution and allow Roberson a chance to prove his innocence.

‘The whole world is watching,’ one supporter declared at a recent rally. Roberson’s case continues to elicit strong responses from across various communities as it raises critical questions concerning legal justice, medical ethics, and the fight against the death penalty.