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In a rare move, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has commuted the death sentence of Robin D. “Rocky” Myers to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Myers was convicted for the 1991 murder of Ludie Mae Tucker in Decatur, Alabama. The decision comes after significant doubts were raised regarding Myers’ guilt and concerns about his intellectual capacity.
Governor Ivey, who has overseen 22 executions during her tenure, stated, “I have enough questions about Mr. Myers’ guilt that I cannot move forward with executing him.” She highlighted the absence of physical evidence linking Myers to the crime scene and noted that neither of the two eyewitnesses identified him as the assailant.
The case has drawn attention due to Myers’ intellectual disability. According to his attorneys, Myers has been diagnosed with an intellectual disability, with IQ scores ranging from 64 to 73, indicating significant cognitive limitations. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that executing individuals with intellectual disabilities violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments.
Further complicating the case, one of the jurors from Myers’ 1994 trial, Mae Puckett, has publicly expressed doubts about his guilt. Puckett stated, “I know he is innocent. They never proved he did it.” Despite the jury’s 9-3 recommendation for a life sentence, the judge exercised judicial override—a practice now abolished in Alabama—to impose the death penalty.
Governor Ivey acknowledged the challenges faced by the Tucker family, stating, “I pray that the Tucker family may, in some way, find closure and peace knowing this case is closed.” She also expressed gratitude to the Attorney General’s Capital Litigation Division for their extensive work on the case.
This commutation marks a significant moment in Alabama’s judicial history, reflecting ongoing debates about the death penalty, especially concerning defendants with intellectual disabilities and cases lacking definitive evidence.
