Dateline NBC The Last Appeal - Ep. 4: The Reckoning
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Oct 10, 2025 In a gripping legal saga, Robert Roberson's last-minute fight against execution unfolds. Emotional testimonies reveal a chaotic scramble for justice, with a recanted juror casting doubt on the original trial. Experts highlight a nationwide reevaluation of controversial diagnoses, including shaken baby syndrome. Advocacy from former detectives and personal stories of wrongful convictions deepen the narrative. A stay from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals offers a glimmer of hope, leaving everyone questioning the next steps in this heart-wrenching case.
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Minutes From Execution
- Robert Roberson described the execution routine, from being stripped and shackled to waiting in a tiny cell for hours.
- He experienced a stay near 10 p.m. after believing his execution was imminent and called it a very, very long day.
Juror Changes Her Mind
- Juror Terry Compton recounted that learning new facts about Nikki's medical history and Robert's autism would have changed her verdict.
- She said she would have found him not guilty and that she would carry guilt if he were executed.
Father Wrongly Convicted, Later Exonerated
- Josh Burns recounted being convicted after doctors labeled his daughter's injuries as shaken baby syndrome and later being exonerated.
- He served a year in jail before a 2024 review cleared him when the diagnosis proved incorrect.