Roland Gutierrez Won’t Let Greg Abbott Forget Uvalde
While he's not a "singular-issue" politician, "for these parents … there’s no issue out there that matters if you don’t have your kid.”
Michelle Pitcher
Michelle Pitcher is a staff writer at the Texas Observer covering criminal justice, housing, and education. She received her master’s in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley and was part of the team at The Marshall Project that won the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. Her reporting has been featured on NPR, FiveThirtyEight, The Dallas Morning News, and more. Michelle was born and raised in Dallas and is now based in Austin.
Articles by Michelle Pitcher
Progressive Prosecutor on Trial in Dallas Election
Incumbent John Creuzot's policies could reduce incarceration rates in his county, but a GOP challenger seeks to dismantle his efforts.
‘Girlhood,’ Interrupted
In a new memoir, a mother recounts the trauma of being investigated for supporting her trans daughter.
Despite Racist Jurors, Andre Thomas Remains on Texas’ Death Row
The convicted man’s lawyer called the prospect of his execution “an ugly spectacle.”
A Brief History of Junk Science and Bad Forensics
“Texas has a long history with the use of unreliable evidence. [It also has made] unique efforts to address that searing history.”
Juror Speaks Out Hours Before Execution in Death Penalty Case
One of the people who voted to convict Kosoul Chanthakoummane said the condemned man’s appeal deserved to be heard.
Recent Execution Based on Discredited Forensic Science
Kosoul Chanthakoummane is set to be executed August 17 for the murder of a Dallas realtor in a case built on hypnosis and faulty evidence.
How Peter Stout Turned Around Houston’s Crime Lab
Once dubbed the worst in the country, Houston Forensic Science Center is setting a new standard for criminal investigations.
Texas’ Eviction Craze
Amid record heat and a new COVID wave, state residents are being threatened with homelessness in rising numbers.
Before ‘Roe’—and After
What criminalized abortion looked like in Texas before 1973, and what it may look like after 2022.