Transcript
Lester Holt (0:00)
Foreign. Last year, Robert Roberson was less than two hours away from dying when he won a last minute stay.
Robert Roberson (0:12)
That was a long day.
Lester Holt (0:15)
He recently shared with me what hardly anyone lives to describe the choreography of an execution, the hours leading up to his own death.
Robert Roberson (0:24)
I had to strip and they gave me some, some other fresh clothing and stuff and stuff. And then they gave me a pair of cloth, cloth slippers for my feet, you know, and had to, had to put the belt of the chain around me and handcuffs and lock it in place.
Lester Holt (0:42)
Officers loaded Robert into a van bound for the 50 mile drive to Huntsville, the death chamber. He was led to a tiny cell.
Robert Roberson (0:53)
So I was walking back and forth, kind of pacing and stuff, you know, I was talking to the Lord, praying to the Lord, you know. Then they brought me some supposed to be last meal and stuff, you know, had a choice between two of them. One of them has like a hamburger Salisbury steak on it and the other one had some rice mixture, looked kind of like Spanish style. I picked that one and stuff, you know.
Lester Holt (1:14)
Robert was counting down the final minutes of his life not knowing if the next footstep would be news of mercy or death.
Robert Roberson (1:24)
I believe it was around six or somewhere around there, gotta stay or something. But then I heard they took it.
Lester Holt (1:31)
Back right until shortly after 10pm when the execution was called off. The Texas Supreme Court had issued a last minute stay.
Robert Roberson (1:41)
It was a very, very, very long day, sir.
Lester Holt (1:43)
You know, Robert's prayers were answered. That was then. But now the clock is ticking again.
Interviewer/Reporter (1:51)
And now the state of course has a new death date for you.
Robert Roberson (1:54)
Yes, sir.
Lester Holt (1:55)
Do you wish you had taken the plea bargain?
Robert Roberson (1:59)