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MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced on Friday that she has commuted the death sentence of Robin “Rocky” Myers, converting it to a life sentence without the possibility of parole. This decision comes amid significant uncertainty regarding his guilt, leading Ivey to feel unable to proceed with his execution scheduled for later this year.
Ivey, while expressing her general support for the death penalty, emphasized her concerns about the evidence against Myers, stating, “I have enough questions about Mr. Myers’ guilt that I cannot move forward with executing him.” She clarified her position, noting, “In short, I am not convinced that Mr. Myers is innocent, but I am not so convinced of his guilt as to approve of his execution.” Ivey further affirmed her respect for the jury’s recommendation of a life sentence, which was aligned with their original decision during his trial in 1994.
Myers, now 63, was found guilty of murdering Ludie Mae Tucker, a 69-year-old woman, in 1991. He had lived across the street from her and has consistently maintained his innocence. A juror from his trial has recently joined calls for clemency on his behalf.
Recently, the Alabama Supreme Court had authorized an execution date for Myers utilizing nitrogen gas, prompting this decision from Ivey, who faced the challenge for the first time since taking office in 2017. Ivey described the decision as one of the most difficult she has encountered during her tenure.
Reflecting on the emotional impact of her decision, Ivey expressed hope for the Tucker family to find closure and noted, “I pray that the Tucker family may, in some way, find closure and peace knowing this case is closed, and Mr. Myers will spend the rest of his life in prison.”
Several questions have been raised regarding the evidence in Myers’ case. His defense team noted that there was no physical evidence linking him to Tucker’s murder. Eyewitness accounts varied, with Tucker reportedly identifying her assailant as a stocky Black man, but she did not name Myers or anyone he knew. Although a juror’s 9-3 recommendation was for a life sentence, the judge ultimately imposed the death penalty, as dictated by a now-abolished Alabama law that allowed judges to determine death sentences independently of jury guidance.
Ivey pointed out that although there was circumstantial evidence, it was “riddled with conflicting evidence from seemingly everyone involved.” The state’s case centered on a VCR taken from Tucker’s home, and whether it was Myers who attempted to sell it at a local drug house.
Mae Puckett, a former juror, expressed her relief at the governor’s decision and reiterated her belief in Myers’ innocence, stating, “God is answering prayers.”
Myers’ attorney, Kacey Keeton, highlighted several procedural failures in the handling of Myers’ case, including the abandonment of his defense by a prior lawyer, which led to the loss of critical timelines for filing appeals in federal court. He emphasized the racial dynamics at play, as Myers was convicted by an almost entirely white jury.
Keeton conveyed deep gratitude for Ivey’s decision, expressing relief that justice was finally being acknowledged after years of accumulating evidence pointing to misconduct throughout the legal process. “I held out hope that he would someday see some measure of justice, of mercy, of humanity,” Keeton wrote.
The last time an Alabama governor commuted a death sentence was in 1999, highlighting the rarity of such decisions in the state’s history.
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