**Death Row Inmate Melissa Lucio Could Be Freed After Judge Declares Her "Actually Innocent"**

A death row inmate convicted of murdering her toddler daughter has been declared "actually innocent" by her trial judge, who believes she should be immediately released from custody. Melissa Elizabeth Lucio, 56, was found guilty in the 2007 death of her two-year-old daughter, Mariah, in Harlingen, Texas. However, Cameron County District Court Judge Arturo Nelson has now stated that Lucio's "conviction and sentence of death should be vacated."

Judge Nelson's conclusion is based on clear and convincing evidence presented during Lucio's appeal, which suggested that her daughter's fatal injuries were the result of an accidental fall rather than intentional harm. This development was first reported by Houston's NBC affiliate KPRC.

Lucio was originally scheduled for execution on April 27, 2022, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals halted the proceedings just two days prior, opting to examine this new evidence more thoroughly. The case has captured public attention, notably drawing advocacy from reality TV star and aspiring lawyer Kim Kardashian.

Lucio's case has garnered a wide range of support, including from Amanda Knox, who was herself cleared of a murder charge in Italy, and Texas State Representative Jeff Leach, a Republican from Plano. Knox expressed her concern about Lucio's situation, asserting that Lucio was "on death row for a crime that never even occurred." Rep. Leach has also pushed for exhaustive efforts to prevent the execution of someone who could be innocent.

The district attorney of Cameron County, who did not prosecute Lucio's original case, is also supporting her appeal. Vanessa Potkin, an attorney representing Lucio and associated with the Innocence Project, emphasized the need for justice in a statement. "Melissa Lucio lived every parent's nightmare when she lost her daughter after a tragic accident," Potkin remarked. "It became a nightmare from which she couldn't wake up when she was sent to death row for a crime that never happened."

With the trial judge and a diverse group of advocates rallying in her favor, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals now faces the crucial decision that could end Lucio’s long ordeal and potentially reunite her with her 13 surviving children and grandchildren.