Judge extends deadline for Melissa Lucio case findings

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A meeting was held Monday at the Cameron County Courthouse to discuss new findings in the Melissa Lucio case.

Arturo Nelson, Senior County Judge met with Lucio's attorneys and Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz inside the 138th State District Court.

Lucio was convicted of capital murder in July 2008 in the killing of her 2-year-old daughter Mariah Alvarez.

As previously reported on ValleyCentral, Lucio earned notoriety as the first Hispanic woman on death row in Texas.

Since her conviction, Lucio has maintained her innocence by saying her daughter died of a head injury after an accidental fall down the stairs inside her Harlingen apartment.

Lucio was scheduled to be executed April 27, 2022, however new findings in the case have put a pause on her execution.

The new findings suggest the jury initially heard "false" and "misleading evidence" that could have changed the outcome of the case, according to Lucio's attorneys.

Now, Lucio's attorneys are hoping to overturn her death sentence and appeal the case to claim her innocence.

During Monday's meeting, Nelson granted an extension period for Lucio's attorneys and District Attorney Saenz to review and respond to state findings, affidavits and evidence before proceeding forward with the requested appeal.

Both parties will have one week each to review the proposed findings before submitting to Nelson for consideration.

"I'll consider it all," Nelson said inside the courtroom. "It's gotta end at some point."