A district court judge has scheduled the execution of Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson for October 16, 2025, nearly a year after a last-minute stay temporarily halted his execution in 2024.
His case - centered on the now-discredited “shaken baby syndrome” theory - continues to spark legal and public scrutiny amid mounting new evidence and calls for justice.
Roberson’s defense team has filed an emergency motion asking the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to stay the execution.
They argue that significant new scientific and medical evidence, including expert testimony suggesting Nikki’s death may have resulted from pneumonia, medication complications, or an accidental fall, warrants a fresh review—and possibly a new trial.
Attorney Gretchen Sween emphasized that the appellate court’s makeup has changed and could be more receptive this time, noting the importance of removing the pressure of a looming execution while evaluating newly uncovered proof of Roberson’s innocence.
Robert Roberson, who is autistic and was convicted in 2003 for the death of his two-year-old daughter, Nikki, has maintained his innocence.
His case remains a controversial flashpoint in Texas, especially as it positions Roberson potentially as the first person executed in the United States based on a shaky, debunked medical theory.
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