Rejoicing over a life spared, and the opportunity for justice to prevail

Thanks be to God, the state of Texas did NOT execute an innocent Latina mother yesterday.

When the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted Melissa Lucio a stay of execution on Monday, they also directed Cameron County District Court to review the new evidence in her case. “It’s a pathbreaking decision,” The Washington Post reports. “It’s not merely a temporary stay of execution, it’s a potential opening to liberty.”

Melissa Lucio is a mother who has been on death row since 2008 when she was convicted of murdering her two-year old daughter, Mariah, who we now understand died from a tragic head injury, not murder after all.

So many advocates, lawyers, politicians and celebrities spoke out against the injustice of Melissa's impending execution. We celebrate with Melissa, her family, and her faithful legal team for this chance to prove her innocence.

Fellowship Southwest's engagement in the advocacy for Melissa Lucio was mentioned in this Sojourners article and, after her stay of execution, in this Baptist Standard piece.

But in the midst of this celebration, we are also saddened by the knowledge that Texas did proceed with the execution of another human being last week. Carl Buntion was the oldest man to be executed in Texas at age 78. He doesn't contest his guilt, but we don't believe that makes his execution any more just. Thank you to TCADP for keeping us aware of his situation and mourning his death even while working hard to prevent Melissa's.

Fellowship Southwest has been against the death penalty before Melissa Lucio's case became widely known, and we will continue advocating for its abolition, whether or not the person's innocence is in question.

Melissa Lucio opened the eyes and hearts of many people. Let's keep seeing the humanity of those on death row and allow our hearts to be open to their stories.