Conflicting letters were released Monday from different family members related to the case of an East Texas man who was scheduled to be executed earlier this month after being convicted of murdering his 2-year-old daughter.

Robert Roberson III, 57, was sentenced to death in 2003 for allegedly shaking down Nikki Curtis. He was whose execution is planned by lethal injection on October 17 in Huntsville, but was spared by a new 11th hour legal movement in which a House committee subpoenaed him to testify.

A The 9 a.m. hearing took place on October 21 but Roberson did not testify as negotiations to bring it to the State Capitol rather that his appearance by teleconference was unsuccessful.

The case — which has already attracted international attention because lawmakers said that if Roberson were put to death, he would be the first person executed in the country in a “shaken baby syndrome” case — has drawn widespread attention additional because Roberson, if allowed to appear in court, attracted international attention. committee, would be the first convicted prisoner in Texas to testify before state lawmakers.

State officials and lawmakers have publicly clashed in recent weeks, including Gov. Greg Abbott who said the committee “has crossed the line” to delay Roberson’s execution and Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a statement after the hearing releasing documents to “Correct the lies” he said the committee has grown.

A new execution date could be set in Roberson’s case, but under Texas law it could only take place about 90 days after a judge sets a new date, pushing back the possible execution to at least 2025.

An undated letter signed by Nikki’s brother Matthew Bowman, aunt Jessica Rachelle Carriere and grandfather Larry Gene Bowman was sent to the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence and several media outlets reported the letter Monday morning.

In the letter, family members say they remain convinced that Roberson is guilty and directly responsible for his daughter’s death.

They said there was an “ongoing saga” around Roberson’s case and that the facts about Nikki’s death had been “lost in this parade of people all too eager to proclaim the innocence of a convicted man by a jury composed of his peers. Nikki’s family also said they witnessed “repeated violence” from Roberson.

“Let me be clear: We do not believe that Mr. Roberson should be put to death simply because he is a bad man,” the letter said. “We believe his death sentence should be carried out based on the facts of this case, which remain true today, as well as the overwhelming evidence presented at the trial that led to the jury’s verdict. »

The letter lists several facts that the family says were presented at Roberson’s trial but were “intentionally left out of the ongoing conversation,” including the injuries Nikki suffered when she was brought to the hospital, the medical examiner testifying that she died from blunt force injuries to the head and Roberson had a “history of sexual and physical abuse” of Nikki and another child.

The family said they always wanted to know what happened to Nikki and what caused her death, but based on recent testimony, they believe Roberson is guilty.

“Nikki’s death is the true tragedy in this case, and her loss has left a deep hold on our hearts. We do not blame those who speak on behalf of Mr. Roberson. We only wish these facts were also included in the story,” the family wrote. “Ultimately, we pray that justice will be served for Nikki.”

Roberson’s younger brother, Thomas Roberson, released a statement Monday through Roberson’s attorney, refuting the allegations made against the death row inmate.

He said the affair destroyed their family and he didn’t understand why Nikki’s mother’s family was saying untrue things.

“These people don’t know my brother and should not see the pain they are causing by spreading stories about him and his case, things they cannot know, stories that are not true,” wrote Thomas Roberson.

He said he was convinced his brother was innocent and that no one who knew Roberson well believed he was capable of harming a child.

Thomas Roberson said he never saw his brother “hurt or say a bad word to a child,” including two other children he had before Nikki, adding that Roberson “vowed to change his life and to learn to be a good father” after Nikki’s mother. had her children taken away by child protective services.

A month after the Roberson family threw a party for Nikki’s second birthday, Nikki’s maternal grandparents agreed that Roberson should have custody of her and the Robersons were happy for him, according to the release.

“Everything that happened when she got so sick and died – and he was charged – was just one long nightmare,” Thomas Roberson said. “But even to this day, Robert fought to bring the family together and pray for all of us. He was a model of forgiveness.

Thomas Roberson said the family’s pain over the case has increased as people who don’t know Roberson say his execution would be justified.

“Nikki had a father who loved him, and he has a family who loves him,” Thomas Roberson’s statement concluded. “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’s too late.