MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama Governor Kay Ivey made a significant decision on Friday to commute the death sentence of Robin “Rocky” Myers to life in prison. Myers had been convicted of the 1991 murder of his neighbor, Ludie Mae Tucker, at her Decatur home. Amid lingering doubts about Myers’ guilt, Governor Ivey chose to spare him from execution, acknowledging the jury’s recommendation for a life sentence without parole back in 1994.
Governor Ivey, a staunch supporter of the death penalty, found herself in a difficult position, citing uncertainties about Myers’ guilt that prevented her from carrying out the execution. The decision to spare Myers was met with strong opposition from Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall, who expressed astonishment at the Governor’s choice to commute the sentence.
This marks the first time Governor Ivey has halted an execution since taking office in 2017, a decision she described as one of the most challenging in her tenure. Despite not being convinced of Myers’ innocence, Governor Ivey emphasized that she could not ignore the questions surrounding his guilt, leading her to the conclusion that execution was not the appropriate course of action.
Myers, who has maintained his innocence since the beginning, was found guilty of capital murder in 1991 based on circumstantial evidence that remains controversial to this day. Jurors, despite voting 9-3 in favor of a life sentence, the judge imposed the death penalty under Alabama’s previous system where judges had the authority to decide death sentences.
The case had drawn widespread attention due to multiple concerns raised by Myers’ attorney, including issues with legal representation and racial bias in the jury selection process. With the sentence now commuted to life in prison, Myers’ attorney expressed relief and gratitude for Governor Ivey’s decision, hoping it would bring some measure of justice and humanity to his client.
The last time an Alabama governor commuted a death sentence was in 1999, underscoring the rare nature of such decisions in the state’s history. While the Attorney General criticized Governor Ivey’s choice, asserting that it disregarded the victim’s family’s grief, others viewed the commutation as a significant step in correcting potential miscarriages of justice.