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EXPLAINER: Concern mounts as execution of Texas mother Melissa Lucio nears

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EXPLAINER: Concern mounts as execution of Texas mother Melissa Lucio nears


HOUSTON (AP) — Almost half of the jurors who sentenced a Texas girl to die for the 2007 demise of one in all her 14 youngsters have referred to as for her upcoming execution to be halted and for her to get a brand new trial.

Melissa Lucio, 52, is about to be executed Wednesday for the demise of her 2-year-old daughter Mariah in Harlingen, a metropolis of about 75,000 in Texas’ southern tip.

Her attorneys say new proof reveals that Mariah’s accidents, together with a blow to the top, had been attributable to a fall down a steep staircase, and lots of lawmakers and celebrities reminiscent of Kim Kardashian, an advocate for felony justice reform, and Amanda Knox — an American who was convicted of murdering a British pupil in Italy and whose conviction was overturned — have rallied to Lucio’s trigger. Prosecutors, although, keep that the lady was the sufferer of kid abuse.

Lucio’s attorneys have filed numerous authorized appeals in search of to cease her execution. She additionally has a clemency software earlier than the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, which is about to contemplate her case on Monday. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott might additionally play a task in deciding Lucio’s destiny. If put to demise, Lucio could be the primary Latina ever executed by Texas and the primary girl the state has put to demise since 2014.

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Right here’s what to know as Lucio’s execution approaches:

WHAT ISSUES ARE BEING DEBATED IN THE CASE?

Lucio’s attorneys say her capital homicide conviction was primarily based on an unreliable and coerced confession that was the results of relentless questioning and her lengthy historical past of sexual, bodily and emotional abuse. They are saying Lucio wasn’t allowed to current proof questioning the validity of her confession.

Her attorneys additionally contend that unscientific and false proof misled jurors into believing Mariah’s accidents solely might have been attributable to bodily abuse and never by medical issues from a extreme fall.

“I knew that what I used to be accused of doing was not true. My youngsters have all the time been my world and though my decisions in life weren’t good I’d have by no means damage any of my youngsters in such a means,” Lucio wrote in a letter to Texas lawmakers.

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Cameron County District Legal professional Luis Saenz, whose workplace prosecuted the case, has mentioned he disagrees with Lucio’s attorneys’ claims that new proof would exonerate her. Prosecutors say Lucio had a historical past of drug abuse and at occasions had misplaced custody of a few of her 14 youngsters.

Throughout a generally contentious Texas Home committee listening to on Lucio’s case this month, Saenz initially pushed again on requests to make use of his energy to cease the execution, earlier than later saying he would intervene if the courts didn’t act.

“I don’t disagree with all of the scrutiny this case is getting. I welcome that,” Saenz mentioned.

Armando Villalobos was the county’s district lawyer when Lucio was convicted in 2008, and Lucio’s attorneys allege that he pushed for a conviction to assist his reelection bid. In 2014, Villalobos was sentenced to 13 years in federal jail for a bribery scheme associated to providing favorable prosecutorial selections.

On this undated {photograph}, Texas demise row inmate Melissa Lucio is holding her daughter Mariah, whereas one in all her different daughters, Adriana, stands subsequent to them. Lucio is about to be executed on April 27 for the 2007 demise of Mariah. Prosecutors say Lucio fatally beat her 2-year-old daughter however Lucio has lengthy denied that, saying Mariah died from accidents sustained throughout a fall down a flight of stairs. Her attorneys say Lucio’s historical past of sexual and bodily abuse led to her giving an unreliable confession. They hope to steer the state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles and Gov. Greg Abbott to both grant an execution reprieve or commute her sentence.((Photograph courtesy of the household of Melissa Lucio by way of AP))

WHO IS CALLING FOR LUCIO’S EXECUTION TO BE STOPPED?

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Greater than half the members of the Texas Home and Senate have requested that her execution be halted. A bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers traveled this month to Gatesville, the place the state homes feminine demise row inmates, and prayed with Lucio.

5 of the 12 jurors who sentenced Lucio and one alternate juror have questioned their determination and requested she get a brand new trial. And Lucio’s trigger additionally has the backing of religion leaders and was featured on HBO’s “Final Week Tonight with John Oliver.”

Lucio’s household and supporters have been touring all through Texas and holding rallies and screenings of a 2020 documentary about her case, “The State of Texas vs. Melissa.”

As her April 27 execution date nears, Melissa Lucio’s lawyers are hopeful that new evidence,...
As her April 27 execution date nears, Melissa Lucio’s attorneys are hopeful that new proof, together with rising public help — together with from jurors who now doubt the conviction and from greater than half the Texas Home of Representatives — will persuade the state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles and Gov. Greg Abbott to grant an execution reprieve or commute her sentence.(Obtained by CBS DFW (For CBS associates solely))

WHERE DO EFFORTS TO HALT HER EXECUTION STAND?

Appeals in search of to cease Lucio’s execution are pending in state and federal courts.

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles is contemplating a request to both commute her demise sentence to life imprisonment or grant her a 120-day execution reprieve.

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Any determination by the parole board to commute her sentence or grant the reprieve would wish Abbott’s approval. The governor, who has granted clemency to solely one demise row inmate since taking workplace in 2015, might additionally unilaterally problem a 30-day execution keep. Abbott commuted a demise sentence to life with out parole for Thomas “Bart” Whitaker, who was convicted of fatally taking pictures his mom and brother. Whitaker’s father was additionally shot however survived and led the hassle to spare his son’s life.

HOW FREQUENTLY ARE WOMEN EXECUTED?

It’s uncommon within the U.S. for a girl to be executed, in line with the Washington-based Dying Penalty Data Heart, a nonprofit that opposes capital punishment. Ladies have accounted for less than 3.6% of the greater than 16,000 confirmed executions within the U.S. relationship again to the colonial interval within the 1600s, in line with the group’s knowledge.

For the reason that U.S. Supreme Court docket reinstated the demise penalty in 1976, there have been 17 girls executed all through the nation, in line with the info. Texas has put extra girls to demise — six — than every other state. Oklahoma is subsequent, with three, and Florida has executed two.

The federal authorities has executed one girl since 1976. Lisa Montgomery, of Kansas, acquired a deadly injection in January 2021 after the Trump administration resumed executions within the federal system following a 17-year hiatus. The Justice Division has halted executions once more underneath the Biden administration.

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___

Observe Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70.

Copyright 2022 KWTX. All rights reserved.





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How to watch Arizona State vs. Texas in 2025 Peach Bowl: TV channel, live stream

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How to watch Arizona State vs. Texas in 2025 Peach Bowl: TV channel, live stream


The quarterfinal round has arrived for the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, and the nation will finally get a look at one of the biggest Cinderella stories of all time — the Arizona State Sun Devils.

The Sun Devils were picked to finish last in their first season in the 16-team Big 12 by the media. They were projected to win 4.5 games by the oddsmakers.

And at the beginning of the 2024 season, the Las Vegas oddsmakers had ASU +10,000 to win the Big 12 Conference. That’s 100 to 1 odds. If you had wagered $100 on the Sun Devils to win the Big 12 in August, you would have walked away with $10,000.

How improbable has Arizona State’s run to the Peach Bowl been? According to Vegas Insider, the Sun Devils winning the Big 12 is the sixth-greatest upset in betting history, just behind the Boston Red Sox winning the World Series in 2004 (+12,000).

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The oddsmakers continue to doubt the Sun Devils, listing them as 12.5-point underdogs to the Texas Longhorns in the 2025 Peach Bowl.

Arizona State is used to being in this position, and running back Cam Skattebo has unwavering confidence in the Sun Devils’ ability to compete at the highest level.

“They continue to keep saying that people are going to try to stop me.. There’s nobody out there that can stop me,” Skattebo said on Monday. “We played in 13 games, and I’ve been the target on each one, so I’m not too worried. We’re going to play our game and play ball and see what happens there.”

Here are details on how to watch No. 4 Arizona State vs. No. 5 Texas on New Year’s Day.

Arizona State vs. Texas TV channel, live stream

The oddsmakers have Texas as 12.5 to 13.5-point favorites. Here are the latest betting odds, courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

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Who: No. 4 Arizona State vs. No. 5 Texas in the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal

Spread: Arizona State +12.5 (-112)

Kickoff Time: Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 11 a.m. MST

Our Prediction: Arizona State 24, Texas 21

TV Channel: ABC, ESPN

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Live Stream: Stream Arizona State-Texas live on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

Live Updates, HighlightsFollow the game on Arizona State On SI for live updates, in-game analysis and big-play highlights throughout Wednesday’s matchup

More Arizona State & Big 12 Analysis



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Texas returns to Atlanta less than a month after losing SEC title game to face Arizona State in CFP

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Texas returns to Atlanta less than a month after losing SEC title game to face Arizona State in CFP


ATLANTA — The Texas Longhorns were in Atlanta less than a month ago, playing for a championship.

That one didn’t go as planned.

Now, the Longhorns get an A-T-L do-over when they face Arizona State at the Peach Bowl in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game on New Year’s Day.

Fifth-seeded Texas (12-2) insists it has gotten over the disappointment of losing an overtime thriller to Georgia on Dec. 7, a result that denied the Longhorns a title in their debut season as a member of the SEC.

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“Of course we’re going to kind of feel that a little bit, but we kind of want to move on and just get ready for Arizona State,” Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. said. “They’re a good football team and we kind of don’t want to think about that (Georgia) game all over again.”

The Longhorns showed no signs of a hangover when they held off Clemson in the opening round of the expanded 12-team playoff.

If they can knock off Arizona State — Texas is a two-touchdown favorite — it will be back to their home state for a semifinal game against either Oregon or Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

Texas wide receiver Silas Bolden (11) runs against Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Atlanta. Credit: AP/John Bazemore

Fourth-seeded Arizona State (11-2) has been one of the nation’s most surprising teams.

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The Sun Devils went 3-9 a year ago in Kenny Dillingham’s first season as head coach. Making the move from the disintegrating Pac-12 to the 16-team Big 12, Arizona State was picked to finish dead last this season.

Instead, it was tied with three other teams for the top spot during the regular season and claimed the title all to itself in the Big 12 championship game, rolling past Iowa State.

This is a chance for Arizona State to prove to everyone that its stunning season was no fluke.

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) celebrates alongside the mascot...

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) celebrates alongside the mascot after the team’s win against Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game, in Arlington, Texas, Saturday Dec. 7, 2024. Credit: AP/Julio Cortez

“We’re going to face one of the best teams in the country, if not the best team in the country,” Dillingham said Tuesday on the eve of the game. “It’s a really tall task for our guys. But by the same token, if you’re a competitor, you want to compete versus the very best in the best environments.”

Ewers vs. Leavitt

Quinn Ewers has a stellar resume as the Texas quarterback.

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Sam Leavitt is out to prove he’s the better man.

The Arizona State QB has been a major reason for his team’s unexpected success. He’s eager for a head-to-head showdown with Ewers, who has passed for 2,867 yards and 26 touchdowns this season.

Leavitt has put up similar numbers, with 2,663 yards and 24 TDs.

“I’m just excited for the opportunity,” he said. “People keep counting me out since Day 1, and I’m going to go prove why I’m the better quarterback.”

Skattebo’s big stage

Cam Skattebo is Arizona State’s biggest star, a bowling ball of a running back who has become one of the rare players in FBS history to put up more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage.

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He doesn’t lack for confidence, either, calling himself the best runner in all of college football.

The Peach Bowl provides a prime opportunity to back up his bravado, especially against a defense that has struggled with missed tackles.

“I feel like I’m the best,” Skattebo said. “I’m excited to play those guys because I’m going to present to them something new that they haven’t seen before. I’m excited, and hopefully they’re ready to play some football.”

Exes from Texas

The Longhorns will see plenty of familiar faces when they look across the line.

A half-dozen players on Arizona State’s overhauled roster used to play at Texas. They all ended up in Tempe through the transfer portal.

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The list of ex-Longhorns players also includes receivers Jake Smith and Troy Omeire, defensive back Xavion Alford, defensive ends J’Mond Tapp and Prince Dorbah, and defensive tackle Zac Swanson.

“All those guys, obviously, they’ll be extra fired up to play the Longhorns,” Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe said. “Anytime you leave a school and you know some people, it’s always fun to play those guys.”

Dillingham said the Texas transfers have made a huge impact on the Arizona State program.

“We know what we’re getting when we’re getting a guy from that program, and that’s a guy who has worked really hard, competed and been pushed,” the Sun Devils coach said. ”Those are the things that we like to bring in.”

Turning it over

Turnovers usually play a key role in big games. It will be interesting to see how that works out in the Peach Bowl.

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Arizona State has coughed up the ball only eight times, tied for the second-fewest turnovers in the FBS. Texas, on the other hand, has forced a nation-leading 29 turnovers.

Dillingham said it will be important to keep the pocket clean around Leavitt.

“It all starts with pass rush,” he said. “They get pass rush, they get tipped balls. Their defensive line gets in throwing windows.”

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian praised Skattebo and the rest of the Sun Devils for losing only three fumbles all year, to go along with five interceptions.

“You just don’t not fumble the ball. You work at not fumbling the ball,” Sarkisian said. “They’ve done a great job of controlling football games by not turning it over.”

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Suspended star

Arizona State will have to play the first half without star defensive back Shamari Simmons, who is suspended for the first two quarters after being ejected for targeting in the Big 12 championship game.

“Shamari is a leader on our team,” Alford said. “It’s very unfortunate that he’s not going to be with us in the first half in the game, but he’ll still be there as a leader and as a teammate on the sidelines and things of that nature.”

Redshirt freshman Montana Warren will take Simmons’ spot in the lineup during the first half.

“God always has a plan, and I just feel like his plan right now is just basically showing who Montana Warren is to the world,” Simmons said. “He’s going to be a great defensive back for Arizona State for a long time coming.”



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Exclusive | Knife-wielding Tren de Aragua gangbangers are repeatedly attacking border crossings in desperate move to force their way into US before Trump takes office

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Exclusive | Knife-wielding Tren de Aragua gangbangers are repeatedly attacking border crossings in desperate move to force their way into US before Trump takes office


Knife-wielding Tren de Aragua gang members are mobbing border crossings at El Paso, Texas, in an attempt to break into the US — and have said they will attack border guards who try to stop them, according to a shocking Texas law enforcement memo leaked to The Post.

Last week, 20 of the Venezuelan gangbangers — armed with blades, tire irons and broken liquor bottles — tried to force their way into the US at a border gate, the missive from the Texas Department of Public Safety read.

Another attempt to break through is expected for New Year’s Day, the memo warned.

Migrants break through Texas’ razor wire during a border riot on March 21 in El Paso. James Breeden for NY Post
The Post’s cover after capturing shocking footage of the border bum rush on March 21 in El Paso, Texas. James Breeden for NY Post

The brutal prison gang is becoming increasingly more desperate to seed more members into the US before President-elect Donald Trump takes over, said Victor Avila, a retired agent for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

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“You’re seeing that violence at the border because they know that it’s going to change in 27 days. It’s going to change. It’s going to be different, and they’re going to be sought after,” he told The Post.

Texas authorities were alerted to the gangbangers’ attempts to force their way into the US by an anonymous informant, who said the violent border break-ins by the gang “would continue every night” at around 3 a.m.

The tipster said the gang intends to “cause harm” to the Texas National Guard soldiers who are stationed there — “especially when they are left alone with no agents” to help them.

A Texas law enforcement source told The Post that “gunfire has picked up big time” along the El Paso border in recent days, adding that authorities have also had to fire more pepperballs at groups trying to breach the border.

DPS didn’t immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

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The renewed violence is centered just a few miles down the border wall from where The Post witnessed a violent El Paso border riot on March 21.

In that assault, more than 200 illegal migrants broke through razor wire and dash to the wall. Some of them brutally assaulted Texas National Guard soldiers in the melee.

At least one of the rioters was seen stomping on a service member’s knee as the group tried to break through.

The gangbangers will attack border guards who try to stop them, according to a shocking Texas law enforcement memo leaked to The Post. Omar Ornelas / El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Migrants battle Texas National Guard soldiers at the border in El Paso, Texas. James Breeden for NY Post

El Paso is a headquarters for Tren de Aragua — with many members passing through the border town before heading out for other areas of the country — including New York City and Aurora, Colorado.

Avila, the retired DHS agent, said the gang has successfully “teamed up” with the cartel on the Mexican side of the border to conduct smuggling operations.

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The latest warning of the gang’s increased violence is linked an anti-American ideology that Avila compared to terrorist groups.

“I think that TdA is coming in with an instruction from their home country. And I think that their ideology is more of a terrorist ideology of destruction,” said Avila.

“They hate the United States just like terrorists do and they will kill, destroy, take over businesses, take over stores and take over apartment complexes, do whatever they have to do to destroy our way of life in the US,” he added.

In September, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared TdA a foreign terrorist organization and revealed that more than 100 of the rioters witnessed by The Post in March were believed to be members of the Venezuelan gang.

The tipster said the gang intends to “cause harm” to the Texas National Guard soldiers who are stationed there — “especially when they are left alone with no agents” to help them. Omar Ornelas/El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said more than 100 of the rioters are suspected members of Tren de Aragua. James Breeden for NY Post

The state also deployed additional state law enforcement resources to tackle the gang’s growing presence in the Lone Star State.

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Abbott also instituted a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence for TdA smugglers moving migrants into Texas.

“Texas is aggressively going after these foreign terrorist organizations of TdA,” the governor declared at the time.

“Our goal among law enforcement in the state of Texas is to defend our state from the growing threat of TdA. We are not going to allow them to use Texas as a base of operations to terrorize our citizens,” he fumed.



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