Robert Leslie Roberson III was born on November 10, 1966, in Wood County, Texas. He grew up in Texas and faced several challenges during his early years. Official records show that from 1991 to 1999, he had multiple legal troubles, including convictions for burglary, theft, and parole violations. As a result, he spent time in prison and was released in 2000.

Before 2002, Roberson experienced personal difficulties, including a divorce. He had two children from this marriage. Additionally, he fathered a daughter named Nikki Michelle Curtis with another woman. This woman struggled with drug abuse and was known to work in the sex trade. Nikki was born on October 20, 1999, and after her birth, she was placed in the care of her maternal grandparents. Eventually, Roberson underwent DNA testing, which confirmed he was Nikki's biological father, and he was granted custody of her.

On January 31, 2002, Robert Leslie Roberson III took his injured two-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, to the hospital. He claimed that she had fallen from her bed and was unconscious when he found her. Despite medical efforts, Nikki was pronounced dead shortly after. Medical staff suspected that her injuries resulted from child abuse rather than an accidental fall. The next day, Roberson was arrested for murder.

During the trial, the prosecution argued that Roberson had intentionally harmed Nikki. Medical experts testified that her injuries were consistent with "shaken baby syndrome," a severe type of brain injury resulting from violent shaking. Roberson denied causing her injuries, but past instances of domestic abuse were revealed against his ex-wife and children. Testimonies indicated that Roberson had previously shaken Nikki in attempts to calm her crying.

The evidence presented included numerous bruises and internal injuries on Nikki, which doctors stated could not have been caused by a fall. On February 21, 2003, Roberson was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death. Over the years, Roberson's appeals were denied, and he maintained that he was innocent.

Controversy surrounded the conviction, primarily due to the reliance on "shaken baby syndrome," which some experts criticized. Roberson’s legal team argued that Nikki had chronic health problems, including pneumonia, which may have contributed to her death. These claims, however, did not sway the courts, and his conviction stood.

Originally scheduled for execution on June 21, 2016, Roberson received a stay of execution. In January 2023, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that there was not enough evidence to intervene in his case, leaving him on death row.

In July 2024, a new execution date was set for October 17, 2024. Roberson’s case gained attention as it highlighted the debate surrounding shaken baby syndrome. Numerous appeals and a clemency petition, supported by lawmakers and public figures, sought to overturn his death sentence, arguing that the conviction was based on flawed science. Despite these efforts, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed the appeals.

Just hours before his scheduled execution, a series of last-minute legal actions unfolded. A temporary restraining order was put in place, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals quickly reversed it. The U.S. Supreme Court also denied his final appeal.

Roberson was ultimately scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on October 17, 2024. However, the Texas Supreme Court intervened on the day of the execution. At that time, Roberson remained on death row for the murder of his daughter, with no new execution date set.