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Gov. Ivey commutes Robin Myers’ death sentence to life without parole, pointing to lack of evidence

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alabamareflector.com – Ralph Chapoco – 2025-02-28 17:48:00

Gov. Ivey commutes Robin Myers’ death sentence to life without parole, pointing to lack of evidence

by Ralph Chapoco, Alabama Reflector
February 28, 2025

Gov. Kay Ivey will spare the life of Robin “Rocky” Myers who used to be on death row and would have eventually been executed.

Ivey announced on Friday that she had commuted Myers’ sentence to life with no chance of parole after he was convicted of capital murder in 1991 for his role in the death of Ludi Mae Tucker.

She said in a statement that she still believes in the death penalty but had reservations about Myers’ death sentence.

“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 also said. “I therefore must respect both the jury’s decision to convict him and its recommendation that he be sentenced to life without parole.”

Myers’ legal team praised the decision.

“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,” said Kacey Keeton, the attorney who represented Myers in his post-conviction appeals.

She said that she had hoped Myers would experience justice and mercy one day.

“Today is that day. Life in Alabama prisons is hard, but Mr. Myers is deeply connected to family and friends whose love has sustained him. Now they, and he, will have more years together, unburdened by the terror that comes with a death sentence.”

She expressed her gratitude to those who supported Myers, to Ivey, and added that “our thoughts remain with the family of Mrs. Tucker.”

Civil rights groups and opponents of the death penalty highlighted Myers’ case for the last couple of years as an example of a person who should have his sentence of death stayed and urged the governor to use her authority to commute his sentence.

Tucker was killed in October 1991.  According to court records, Myers entered her residence to use the phone after he had been hurt in a collision. He got into an argument with her cousin and husband, eventually stabbing Tucker, who died at the hospital several hours later, according to court documents.

Myers maintains his innocence. According to court documents, Myers lived across the street from Tucker and said he never entered the residence, but the two would wave to one another.

One witness said that he saw a short, stocky Black man dressed in dark clothing coming from the area of Tucker’s home. Law enforcement arrested Myers after taking him into custody on a probation violation and began to interview him.

He was indicted in Tucker’s death in 1991, and a jury convicted him of capital murder in 1994. A jury recommended he be sentenced to life without parole, but a judge overruled the recommendation and imposed the death penalty.

Before Ivey commuted his sentence, Myers was one of 30 people on death row because a judge had overturned a jury’s verdict that would have spared their lives.

Ivey said in her statement that she had enough doubts about the case to commute Myers’ death sentence.

“For example, no murder weapon was found, and no DNA evidence or fingerprints or other physical evidence tied Mr. Myers to the scene of the crime,” Ivey said. “Although Ms. Tucker knew Mr. Myers and let her attacker inside the house, neither she nor Marie Dutton — the only two eyewitnesses to the crime — ever identified Mr. Myers as the assailant. There is also other circumstantial evidence, but it is riddled with conflicting evidence from seemingly everyone involved.”

Organizations that oppose the death penalty praised Ivey’s decision.

“It is amazing that Gov. Ivey has taken the time to examine this case enough to recognize how much doubt there is about Rocky’s conviction,” said Abraham J. Bonowitz, director of Death Penalty Action, an organization that advocates to abolish the death penalty. “Many of us are convinced of his innocence and we are grateful and hope that Gov. Ivey will give similar attention to Toforest Johnson and Tommy Lane.”

Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.

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News from the South - Alabama News Feed

A very dry September forecast with hot afternoons ahead for Alabama.

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www.youtube.com – WVTM 13 News – 2025-09-14 06:30:35

SUMMARY: Alabama faces a very dry September with hot afternoons continuing through the last week of summer before the autumnal equinox. Sunday begins comfortably cool in the 60s, warming to low 90s by mid-afternoon under mostly sunny skies. A weak wave may bring a few showers tonight, mainly to northwest Alabama, but widespread rain is unlikely. Temperatures will remain above average, hitting mid-90s Tuesday and Wednesday. By next weekend, a trough and front may increase cloud cover and rain chances slightly, potentially lowering temperatures closer to average. Overall, the forecast calls for persistent dry and warm conditions into next week.

A very dry September forecast with hot afternoons ahead for Alabama.

WVTM13 is your home for Alabama breaking news and weather. For your latest Alabama news and weather visit: https://www.wvtm13.com/

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News from the South - Alabama News Feed

Huntsville Fire & Rescue Holds 9/11 Memorial Service | Sept. 11, 2025 | News 19 at 5 p.m.

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www.youtube.com – WHNT News 19 – 2025-09-11 17:29:41

SUMMARY: On September 11, 2025, Huntsville Fire & Rescue held a memorial service to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Military members and first responders gathered at Huntsville Fire Station One, where at 7:46 a.m., lights, sirens, and air horns sounded to replicate the sounds heard during the attacks. Fire Chief Howard McFarland emphasized the importance of remembering the tragedy to educate younger generations and prevent history from repeating. Former Captain Lynn recalled the shock of witnessing the attacks and noted how 9/11 reshaped emergency preparedness. This annual event is held across all 20 Huntsville fire stations.

The Huntsville Fire & Rescue held a 9/11 memorial service.

News 19 is North Alabama’s News Leader! We are the CBS affiliate in North Alabama and the Tennessee Valley since November 28, 1963.

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News 5 NOW at 8:00am | September 11, 2025

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www.youtube.com – WKRG – 2025-09-11 08:31:10

SUMMARY: On September 11, 2025, News 5 NOW covered 9/11 commemorations, including first responders climbing 2,000 steps at Hancock Whitney Stadium to honor the World Trade Center’s 110 stories. The Original Oyster House offered free meals to first responders in Mobile and Baldwin counties. The program also reported a new Vibrio bacterial infection case in Escambia County, highlighting health warnings for beachgoers. Additionally, they discussed a study linking chronic insomnia to increased dementia risk, election recounts in Gulf Shores, and a recent political shooting in Utah, sparking debate over harsher punishments for political violence. Viewer opinions on extraterrestrials and political violence were shared in an interactive social media segment.

First Responders in Mobile honored the heroes of September 11th, a Pensacola woman is in the hospital after being infected with the flesh eating bacteria vibrio vulnificus, and a vote re-count wrapped up in Gulf Shores…

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