Melissa Lucio

The appeals court has ordered a trial court to hear new evidence that Lucio's supporters say proves her innocence.

She paints pictures to send to her grandchildren for their birthdays and meets with a spiritual adviser. Abbott is a staunch supporter of the death penalty and has overseen more than 50 executions since taking office in 2015. The number of times Lucio denied harming Mariah also indicates that her confession may have been false, Redlich said. Bite-mark analysis is now considered completely unreliable, said Adam Freeman, a former president of the American Board of Forensic Odontology. He said no studies suggest that dentists can reliably diagnose a bite mark or, if one exists, identify who caused it. Recordings show police used “pretty egregious” questioning techniques, Redlich said, including suggesting Mariah’s death must have been an accident and implying it would not be a big deal to confess to. Five of the jurors who sentenced Lucio to death have called for clemency, saying information that has emerged since the trial suggests that her life should be spared. Lucio is the only Latina to have been sentenced to death in Texas. Lucio’s attorneys also point to red flags in a late-night interrogation that led to what they argue is a false confession given under pressure. She noted that Texas Republicans, including state lawmaker Jeff Leach, were among those championing Lucio’s case; it was Leach, Babcock said, who broke the news to Lucio of the court ruling on Monday. I am grateful to have more days to be a mother to my children and a grandmother to my grandchildren.” Under questioning from state lawmakers this month, Saenz said he disagreed with Lucio’s attorneys that new evidence would exonerate her, the Associated Press reported. Mariah also had bite marks on her back, a broken arm, missing hair and internal bruising, Saenz said.