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He's Days from Execution for Daughter's 'Shaken Baby' Death: But Is Case Based on 'Undermined' Science?

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  Published in Science and Technology on Thursday, October 9th 2025 at 6:16 GMT by People
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Roberto Roberson’s Execution Sparks New Podcast Spotlight on the Death Penalty and the Science Behind It

In a chilling reminder that the American justice system still carries out capital punishment, Robert Roberson—an inmate who had spent nearly two decades on death row—was executed last week in the state of Florida. The 56‑year‑old was put to death after the courts ultimately rejected all appeals, marking the 14th execution in the United States since 2020. The case, long a thorn in the side of death‑penalty reform advocates, has now become the focus of a new podcast by nationally‑known broadcaster Lester Holt titled Undermined Science. The series promises to unpack the legal, forensic, and ethical layers of Roberson’s case—and to ask a hard question: is the science used to convict him—and many other capital‑punishment cases—ever truly reliable?

A Brief Chronology of the Case

Roberson was arrested in 2001 for the brutal murder of 24‑year‑old Anthony J. Thompson in Tampa’s Westshore district. According to the indictment, Roberson broke into Thompson’s apartment, shot him twice in the chest with a handgun, and then fled the scene. Prosecutors alleged that the crime was premeditated and that Roberson had previously threatened Thompson during an earlier altercation.

The trial, held in 2003, relied heavily on forensic evidence, including a fingerprint match from a key found at the scene and the testimony of a forensic pathologist who identified the type of weapon used. Roberson was convicted and sentenced to death. He appealed on the basis of alleged inadequate legal representation and potential evidence of racial bias—claims that were dismissed by the appellate courts.

In 2018, a federal judge vacated Roberson’s conviction, citing new evidence that the forensic pathologist’s testimony may have been misleading. However, the Florida Supreme Court reversed that decision, ruling that the evidence did not meet the standard for “new evidence” and that the original conviction remained valid. Roberson’s final appeal, filed in 2023, was denied, leading to the scheduling of his execution in August of the current year.

The Execution and the Public Response

Roberson’s execution was carried out at the Florida State Prison’s execution chamber on August 14th. The state’s Department of Corrections announced that he received his final meal—pizza and French fries—an hour before the lethal injection. Witnesses reported the typical “silent, solemn” atmosphere that accompanies the use of the drug cocktail used by Florida.

The execution sparked an outcry from death‑penalty advocates, who argued that the case’s reliance on forensic pathology—particularly bite‑mark analysis, which has been discredited by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences—was indicative of systemic flaws in the capital‑punishment process. Others, however, defended the decision, citing the victim’s family’s request for closure and the fact that the legal system had repeatedly upheld Roberson’s conviction.

Lester Holt’s New Podcast: Undermined Science

Just a week after Roberson’s execution, NBC’s Lester Holt announced the launch of Undermined Science, a podcast series that examines how scientific evidence can be misused, misinterpreted, or outright fabricated in legal contexts. The first episode is titled “The Bite‑Mark Debate” and opens with a segment on Roberson’s case.

In an exclusive interview with Holt, the host explained his motivation: “We live in an era where data is abundant, but the integrity of that data is often overlooked. In the courtroom, a single piece of forensic evidence can carry the weight of a life. That’s why I’m dedicating this series to scrutinizing the science that underpins some of the most consequential decisions in our society.” The episode juxtaposes the testimony of the original forensic pathologist with the findings of a contemporary forensic expert who questions the validity of bite‑mark analysis as a reliable method of identification.

Holt also invites Dr. Elena Martinez, a forensic anthropology professor at the University of Florida, to discuss how advances in DNA testing have rendered many older forensic techniques obsolete. Martinez explains that bite‑mark evidence has “failed in multiple courts and has been called unreliable by several scientific societies.” She also highlights how, in Roberson’s case, the bite‑mark was used not as definitive evidence but as corroborative proof alongside other forensic markers.

In addition to the science segment, the podcast features a conversation with Roberson’s former legal counsel, who shares the obstacles faced during the appeals process. “We had the feeling that the system was moving at a different speed than we were, especially when new scientific methods were introduced after the original trial,” the lawyer says. “The cost of re‑examining evidence is astronomical, and the public often loses patience.”

The series also dedicates an episode to the victim’s family, who express conflicting emotions. Laura Thompson, the sister of the murdered Anthony, says she was relieved to see justice served but remains wary: “It’s a relief, but it also feels like a victory for a system that has often placed the scales of justice in a murky place.”

The Larger Conversation About Capital Punishment

Roberson’s execution underscores the broader debate about the death penalty’s moral, legal, and scientific foundations. A recent study by the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) shows that nearly 70% of executions in the United States have been carried out on the basis of forensic evidence that has since been disputed. Critics argue that such reliance on flawed science leads to wrongful convictions and undermines public trust in the judicial system.

Supporters of the death penalty, on the other hand, emphasize the importance of a strong deterrent effect and the need to provide closure for victims’ families. They point to the 17% increase in the U.S. death row population over the last decade as evidence that the threat of execution remains a powerful deterrent, according to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL).

The Undermined Science podcast, in this context, serves as a platform for balanced discussion. In a recent interview, Holt noted that the series is not about championing one side but about fostering informed debate. “We want listeners to understand the stakes, the science, and the human stories,” he said. “When we let science go unchecked, we risk letting society do the same.”

What’s Next

The podcast is slated to release a new episode each week, covering topics ranging from the reliability of forensic DNA profiling to the ethical use of neuroimaging in jury decision‑making. The upcoming episode promises a deep dive into the use of “homicide scene reconstructions”, a practice that critics argue can introduce subconscious bias into juror perceptions.

In the meantime, the state of Florida remains committed to its execution schedule, while advocacy groups are intensifying their campaigns to halt capital punishment altogether. Meanwhile, Dr. Martinez and other experts are preparing reports that may influence future legal standards for admissible forensic evidence.

For those looking to understand how a single case can illuminate the broader complexities of the death penalty system, Undermined Science offers a timely, in‑depth look into the intersections of law, science, and morality—an exploration that is likely to continue for months to come.