The State of Texas vs. Melissa

State of Texas vs. Melissa is a 2020 French-American documentary by Sabrina Van Tassel. The documentary follows the case of Melissa Lucio, a Texan woman who was the first woman of Hispanic descent in Texas to be sentenced to death. It was selected for the Tribeca Film Festival in 2020, and won best documentary at the Raindance Film Festival. As of 2021, Lucio has been on death row for 13 years, having been convicted of the abuse and murder of one of her children. The rights were acquired by Hulu, for streaming in the US.[1]

This article is about the documentary. For the legal case, see Melissa Lucio.
The State of Texas vs. Melissa
Directed byCyril Thoma
Sabrina Van Tassel
Written bySabrina Van Tassel
Produced byPhilippe de Bourbon
Isaac Sharry
Sabrina Van Tassel
StarringNorma Jean Farley
Peter Gilman
Bobby Lucio
Daniella Lucio
Diane Lucio
Esperanza Lucio
Melissa Lucio
Rene Lucio
CinematographyCyril Thomas
Edited byDamien Bois
Music byChristophe Lapinta
Production
company
Vito Films
Distributed byAlba Films
FilmRise
Release date
  • April 21, 2021 (2021-04-21) (Tribeca)
Running time
102 min.
CountryFrance-United States
LanguageEnglish-Spanish-French

Background

On February 17, 2007, paramedics were called to a residence, where an unresponsive two-year-old child was found. The child succumbed thereafter. The child’s mother, Melissa Lucio, was arrested and convicted of murder due to evidence of abuse.[2] A 2011 appeal against the conviction was denied.[3] However, due to trial court interference in the accused's right to present a defense, the sentence was unanimously overturned in 2019 by a three-judge panel of the Federal Appeals Court.[4] However, this was again subsequently overturned and Lucio remains on death row.[5]

In January 2022, Cameron County officials signed an execution warrant for Lucio. Her execution was scheduled for April 27, 2022.[6] On April 25, 2022 the Texas Court of Appeals granted a stay in Lucio's case and remanded it back to trial court. The court found merit in four of Lucio's claims for clemency.[7]

Summary

Reception

The documentary received overall positive feedback, with an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes.[8]

See also

References
  1. Keslassy, Elsa (April 15, 2021). "Hulu Acquires U.S. Rights to Tribeca Documentary The State of Texas vs. Melissa". Variety. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  2. "Death Row Information". Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  3. "Melissa Elizabeth Lucio v. The State of Texas (concurring)". Justia Law.
  4. "Federal Appeals Court Overturns Mother's Conviction in Texas Child Murder Case That May Have Been an Accidental Death". Death Penalty Information Center.
  5. "Inmates on Death Row". Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  6. Puente, Nathaniel (January 14, 2022). "Harlingen woman faces April execution for daughter's 2007 murder". KVEO-TV. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  7. Hennes, Rebecca (2022-04-25). "What to know about Melissa Lucio, Texas mom on death row whose execution was halted by a Texas court". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  8. "The State of Texas vs. Melissa (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
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