HOUSTON — The case of Melissa Lucio, a Texas woman whose execution was postponed in 2022 due to increasing doubts about her conviction for the murder of her 2-year-old daughter, has taken a significant turn. A judge has recently declared that Lucio is “actually innocent” of the capital murder charge.
Senior State District Judge Arturo Nelson determined that the prosecution had relied on false testimony and had withheld crucial evidence during her 2008 trial. Furthermore, new scientific findings that were unavailable at the time have undermined the evidence that the state presented. Judge Nelson has recommended the overturning of Lucio’s conviction and death sentence.
In a comprehensive 62-page ruling, which was signed in October but only made public recently, Nelson stated, “This Court finds (Lucio) has satisfied her burden and produced clear and convincing evidence that she is actually innocent of the offense of capital murder.”
Lucio has consistently insisted on her innocence, asserting that her daughter Mariah died from a tragic fall down a steep staircase rather than any form of abuse. The judge’s recommendation has now gone to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which holds the authority to make the final decision regarding Lucio’s legal fate. There is currently no estimated timeline for when the appeals court will reach a conclusion. Lucio’s case has attracted significant attention, garnering support from notable figures such as Kim Kardashian, as well as a diverse coalition of lawmakers.
In a message reflecting their hopefulness, Lucio’s children, John and Michelle, expressed that this is the best possible news as the holidays approach, stating, “We pray our mother will be home soon.”
Vanessa Potkin, who is the director of special litigation at the Innocence Project and one of Lucio’s legal representatives, commented on the situation, asserting that Lucio had been sentenced to death for a crime that never took place.
The Cameron County District Attorney’s Office, which handled Lucio’s prosecution, did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Lucio, aged 56, was initially scheduled for lethal injection in April 2022, following the tragic 2007 death of her daughter in Harlingen, a city located in the southern part of Texas. However, just two days prior to her scheduled execution, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals postponed the lethal injection to review Lucio’s claims of new evidence supporting her exoneration.
The appeals court had tasked the trial court with examining four specific claims raised by Lucio’s attorneys, including allegations of false testimony by prosecutors and the contention that previously unobtainable scientific evidence should exonerate her. In April, Judge Nelson had sanctioned a cooperative agreement between prosecutors and Lucio’s legal team to overturn the conviction based on findings that evidence from her murder trial had indeed been suppressed.
Prosecutors had previously argued that Mariah was a victim of domestic abuse, highlighting that her body was found with numerous bruises. The case was later remanded to Nelson in June, who was requested to provide recommendations regarding the remaining three claims. In his findings, Nelson ruled in favor of Lucio, criticizing the prosecution for submitting misleading medical expert testimony that asserted the girl’s injuries could only be the result of abuse. He also pointed out the erroneous scientific testimony provided by a Texas Ranger, who claimed he could determine her guilt from her mannerisms and body language during interrogation.
