In February 2007, Melissa Lucio's 2-year-old daughter, Mariah, fell down a flight of stairs and suffered injuries that ultimately lead to her death. Police immediately believed Mariah's death was not an accident and blamed Lucio for her death. She was arrested, interrogated, and coerced into confessing to a crime she did not commit. Lucio was charged with capital murder and, in 2008, Lucio was convicted and sentenced to death. Since her conviction, Lucio has fought to prove her innocence, securing a stay of execution in 2022.