Robert Roberson Faces Execution Amid Controversy Over Shaken Baby Syndrome

Thu Oct 16 2025 22:17:47 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Robert Roberson, convicted of murdering his daughter based on shaken baby syndrome, contemplates his upcoming execution, maintaining his innocence as a coalition rallies for his exoneration.

Robert Roberson prepares for his scheduled execution in Texas, believed to be the first in the U.S. related to a conviction on shaken baby syndrome. He asserts his innocence in the death of his daughter while advocates push for a halt to the execution, citing flawed evidence and legal backing from a diverse group of supporters.

LIVINGSTON, Texas (AP) — Robert Roberson remains calm as he nears his execution date in a controversial case involving accusations based on shaken baby syndrome. Roberson insists on his innocence in the death of his two-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, who died in 2002. He is scheduled for lethal injection on October 16, facing the dubious distinction of being the first person in the U.S. to be executed for a murder linked to this medico-legal diagnosis.

Roberson attributes his hope for a last-minute reprieve to his lawyers, supporters, and faith. He reflects daily on the life his daughter could have led, sharing his thoughts in a recent interview from the Polunsky Unit where Texas's male death row inmates are held.

At his 2003 trial, prosecutors argued Roberson fatally abused his daughter, linking her death to shaken baby syndrome, a designation that has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years. His defense contends that Nikki's death stemmed from pneumonia complications and that the case relied on outdated scientific methods.

Last year, Roberson’s execution was temporarily halted after successful interventions from Texas lawmakers who expressed doubts regarding his guilt. With new legal efforts underway and mobilization from a broad coalition of supporters, including notable figures like bestselling author John Grisham, Roberson's case has garnered widespread attention in advance of the scheduled execution.

Despite the backlash against the conviction, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and some medical professionals maintain that Nikki's death was the result of abuse rather than a medical misinterpretation. Roberson continues to affirm his innocence, emphasizing that his behavior during the investigation was influenced by his undiagnosed autism, which he believes impacted perceptions of his guilt.

Roberson stated, “I never shook her or hit her,” reiterating his claims each time his case comes under review. He remains optimistic about the possibility of a new trial to clear his name before facing what he deems an unnecessary execution.