It's not unusual for a death row inmate to claim innocence.

What is highly unusual in the case of Robert Roberson is not only the number of people who believe in his innocence, but who those people are.

Among them: a lead detective who says he bungled the case, dozens of Republican lawmakers who have fought to stop the upcoming execution in Texas, and best-selling author John Grisham, who believes in Roberson's innocence so much that he's writing a nonfiction book about it.

"I'm trying to raise awareness about this incredible injustice and this slowly unfolding trainwreck we're watching right now," Grisham told USA TODAY. "To see something like this is very disturbing."

Roberson, 58, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in Texas on Thursday, Oct. 16, for the 2002 death o

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