Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is sparing the life of capital murder convict Robin “Rocky” Myers. Ivey commuted Myers’ sentence to life with no chance of parole for his conviction in the 1991 death of Ludi Mae Tucker, reports the Alabama Reflector. Ivey said she believes in the death penalty but had reservations about Myers’ 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 said. “I therefore must respect both the jury’s decision to convict him and its recommendation that he be sentenced to life without parole.” Kacey Keeton, Myers' attorney, said, "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.”
Civil rights groups and opponents of the death penalty have highlighted Myers’ case as an example of a person who should have his sentence of death stayed. Tucker was killed in October 1991. Myers allegedly entered her residence to use the phone after he had been hurt in a collision. He was accused of arguing with her cousin and husband, eventually stabbing Tucker.. Myers, who maintained his innocence. lived across the street from Tucker, said he never entered the residence, but the two would wave to one another. One witness saw a short, stocky Black man dressed in dark clothing coming from near Tucker’s home. Law enforcement arrested Myers after taking him into custody on a probation violation and began to interview him. 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. Ivey said no murder weapon was found, and no DNA evidence or fingerprints or other physical evidence tied Mr. Myers to the scene of the crime."
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