They also say her case could be a catalyst for reviewing death row policies, including rules on contact visits, and possibly even a discussion on whether to abolish the death penalty in Texas. Authorities say Lucio had a history of drug abuse and at times had lost custody of some of her 14 children. Leach, a Republican, said he’s been a supporter of the death penalty in the most heinous cases. “To say I’m wrestling with the very existence of the death penalty in Texas would be a dramatic understatement,” Leach said. Only 17 women have been executed in the U.S. since the Supreme Court lifted its ban on the death penalty in 1976, most recently in January 2021.

Source: ABC News April 08, 2022 12:03 UTC