Alabama Governor Commutes Death Sentence for Rocky Myers After Questions About Evidence

Gov. Kay Ivey, a strong proponent of capital punishment, shifts Myers' sentence to life without parole, citing doubts about his guilt.

Robin 'Rocky' Myers, an intellectually disabled man convicted of a 1991 murder, had his death sentence commuted to life in prison by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.
Ivey noted the lack of physical evidence tying Myers to the crime and questions raised about the fairness of his trial, including a judge overriding the jury's life sentence recommendation.
This marks the first time since taking office in 2017 that Ivey, a staunch supporter of the death penalty, has commuted a death sentence.
The decision follows sustained advocacy highlighting flaws in Myers' case, including his consistent claims of innocence and the absence of DNA or fingerprint evidence linking him to the crime.
The last commutation of a death sentence by an Alabama governor occurred in 1999, underscoring the rarity of such actions in the state.