MELISSA LUCIO SENTENCED TO DEATH BY LETHAL INJECTION
July 10, 2008 | News
For the first time in Cameron County history, a woman is sentenced to death.
Today, July 10th 2008, in the city of Brownsville, TX 38 year old Melissa Elizabeth Lucio was sentenced to death. The mother of 14 caused the death of her 2 and a 1/2 year old daughter Mariah Alvarez back in February of 2007 in the city of Harlingen, TX. The judgment was handed down at 5:30 this afternoon, just three hours since the sentencing phase had begun.
Lucio’s lawyer, Peter Gilman is confident that this sentence will be overturned when they appeal.
Although Peter Gilman argued that Mariah died as a result of falling down stairs, the trial revealed that young Mariah had been a victim of extensive physical abuse.
Assistant D.A. Alfredo Padilla explained the lethal injection method of execution which Lucio faces.
Lucio’s common-law husband also faces life in prison for failing to report the abuse which led to the untimely death of Mariah Alvarez. Additionally, it remains to be seen what will be done with Lucio’s remaining 13 children.
The last woman to face the death penalty in Cameron County was Angela Camacho, however, she was deemed mentally retarded and instead was given life in prison
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15 people have left comments
I don’t agree with a death sentence. there are 13 others that will be with out a mother. The state should allow these kids to one day have a better relationship with their mother. Instead she will be dead before they get a chance. I feel that the conviction should be overturned and she should spent the rest of her life thinking about what she did to that precious child. This state should be reviewed by someone to stop so many death sentences from accurring. I know that some crimes are so bad that death appears to be the only way, but allowing someone a life time to think about what they have done is a better sentence. Thanks




















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The biological father, of Mariah, should also be arrested, charged with abuse/neglect, and put on death row if he has been a dead beat. And the father(s) of the thirteen other children should be forced to care for the children or put on death row too. It’s sad that society never deems the fathers actions to be downright criminal.