Judge Finds Texas Death Row Inmate Melissa Lucio 'Actually Innocent' of Murder
A Texas judge has declared Melissa Lucio "actually innocent" of the murder of her 2-year-old daughter, recommending her conviction be overturned. Lucio, who was two days from execution in 2022, has been on death row for 16 years. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will decide if she should be released. The case underscores the risk of executing innocent individuals, with evidence suggesting her daughter may have died from an accidental fall. The trial was flawed by withheld evidence and improper jury influence.