Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has commuted the death sentence of Robin “Rocky” Myers, 63, to life in prison without parole, citing concerns about his guilt.
According to the Associated Press, the decision halts the planned execution of Myers, who was convicted in 1994 for the 1991 murder of 69-year-old Ludie Mae Tucker in Decatur, Alabama.
Governor Ivey, a staunch supporter of the death penalty, stated that while she is not convinced of Myers’ innocence, she also harbors doubts about his guilt.
“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 said in her statement. “I therefore must respect both the jury’s decision to convict him and its recommendation that he be sentenced to life without parole.”
At Myers’ trial, the jury voted 9-3 in favor of a life sentence. However, under Alabama’s now-abolished judicial override system, the judge imposed a death sentence instead.
Legal and Evidentiary Concerns
Myers has long maintained his innocence, and his case has drawn significant legal scrutiny. His conviction was based largely on circumstantial evidence, with no physical evidence directly linking him to the crime. Court records indicate that the prosecution’s case heavily relied on a VCR taken from Tucker’s home and whether Myers was the person who later attempted to sell it.
Additionally, the victim initially described her attacker as a short, stocky Black man but did not specifically name Myers, despite prior encounters with him. Further complicating matters, Myers’ post-conviction attorney abandoned his case, leading to missed opportunities for federal appeals. His conviction by a nearly all-white jury has also been cited as a troubling factor in his sentencing.
Attorney General Opposes Commutation
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed strong opposition to the commutation.
“I am astonished by Governor Ivey’s decision to commute the death sentence of Rocky Myers and am bewildered that she chose not to directly communicate with me about this case or her decision,” Marshall said in a statement.
He maintained that the conviction was sound and criticized the governor’s intervention.
Marshall’s office had recently secured an Alabama Supreme Court order approving an execution date for Myers using nitrogen hypoxia. Ivey’s commutation, however, preempted the next step in setting an execution date.
This marks the first time Governor Ivey has stopped an execution since taking office in 2017, despite overseeing more than 20 executions. The last time an Alabama governor commuted a death sentence was in 1999.
Response from Legal Advocates and Jurors
The decision was met with relief from Myers’ legal team and supporters. Kacey Keeton, an attorney who has represented Myers since 2007, called the commutation a long-awaited act of justice.
“I’m not sure there are words enough to convey my joy, relief, and gratitude at learning of Gov. Ivey’s decision to commute Mr. Myers’s sentence,” Keeton stated.
Former juror Mae Puckett, who had supported clemency, also welcomed the decision.
“Governor Ivey put it back into the jury’s hands,” Puckett said. “God is answering prayers.”
While Myers will remain incarcerated for life, his supporters continue to push for a full exoneration. The case has sparked broader discussions on judicial override, racial disparities in sentencing, and the potential for wrongful executions
