ANDERSON COUNTY, Texas — In response to a statement from the family of 2-year-old Nikki Curtis, the brother of East Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson said Monday that his brother did not harm his child in any way and claims of abuse are not true.
Robert Roberson III, 57, was set to be executed Thursday, Oct. 17, in connection with the 2003 Anderson County conviction in the death of his 2-year-old daughter Nikki Curtis, and he has said he's innocent for more than two decades. But a subpoena filed by the Texas House on Criminal Jurisprudence seeking to have Roberson testify ultimately led to the Texas Supreme Court halting his execution.
In a statement, Nikki's family, including her brother Matthew Bowman, her aunt Jessica Rachelle Carriere and her grandfather Larry Gene Bowman, claimed that Nikki was abused physically and sexually by her father and they're convinced that he is "directly responsible for Nikki’s death." State Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, gave the letter to the Texas House on Criminal Jurisprudence.
Soon after the letter was released, Robert Roberson's younger brother Thomas Roberson, of Bullard, said Monday no one who knew Robert Roberson believed he was capable of harming any child. His brother said he's convinced that he could not have done what he's accused of doing.
"I do not claim to understand the science around 'Shaken Baby' or know about Nikki’s medical history. But I know Robert. He was always my supporter when we were growing up. He was someone who stood up for kids who were being picked on by others," Thomas Roberson said. "I never saw him hurt or say a mean word to any child—and that includes the two disabled kids he had before Nikki who our family raised without any involvement from their mother."
In his letter, Thomas Roberson goes to say that Nikki's mother had her children, including Nikki, taken away by Child Protective Services. Robert Roberson stepped up when he learned that Nikki could be his daughter and he vowed to become a good father.
He moved back to Palestine where I was then living with our parents and his two kids. It was hard for him to find work, but he got a job delivering newspapers so he could support himself and Nikki," Thomas Roberson said.
Thomas Roberson said that the Bowmans, who were Nikki’s step grandmother and grandfather on the mother’s side, agreed to give Robert Roberson custody of Nikki. The Roberson family was happy for him to have custody, but everything that happened since her death and Robert Roberson's arrest has been a "nightmare."
"But even to this day, Robert has fought to bring the family back together and to pray for all of us. He has been a model of forgiveness. I find it hard to see how he has been able to do that with how hard his life has been," Thomas Roberson said.
The brother said that people who didn't know Robert Roberson are saying things about him that aren't true and seemingly to justify executing him. Thomas Roberson said he can understand why this is painful, especially for Nikki's half-brother Matthew Bowman. However, Thomas Roberson said that the half-brother did not know Robert Roberson, and the others do not know his brother.
"This kind of cruelty on top of a very sad situation does not help anyone. Nikki had a father who loved her, and he has a family who loves him. I saw my brother with Nikki, and I know he did not harm his child in any way. I hope the truth can come out one day before it is too late," Thomas Roberson said.
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