CBS19: Exonerated duo warn of 'junk science' in Shaken Baby Syndrome cases (incl. Robert Roberson) through new podcast
Regan Bowlby
Exonerated duo warn of 'junk science' in Shaken Baby Syndrome cases through new podcast
Exonerated of Shaken Baby Syndrome years apart, Josh Burns and Andrew Roark spotlight questionable medical science in courts through their podcast, Unshaken Truth.
Jesus Martinez, March 23, 2026
Josh Burns and Andrew Roark know firsthand how a single criminal charge can upend a life — especially one they say never should have been filed.
“Our core message is what happened to us can happen to anyone,” Burns said.
Both men were accused of Shaken Baby Syndrome in separate cases, years apart. Burns’ case took place in Michigan in 2015. Roark’s dates back to 1997 in Dallas County. Despite the decades between their prosecutions, the two men share a striking connection: both were exonerated in November of 2024, just three days apart.
“I knew in my initial trial that there were huge questions with the science,” Burns said.
The exonerations brought an end to years of legal battles, but also marked the beginning of a new mission. Now living about an hour away from each other in the Dallas area, Burns and Roark have teamed up to launch a podcast titled Unshaken Truth. The show focuses on what they describe as flawed medical science being used in courtrooms across the country.
“And, yeah, kind of incredible,” Burns said of the timing of their exonerations.
Through the podcast, Burns and Roark say they want to warn parents and caregivers about how quickly an unexplained medical emergency involving a child can lead to criminal accusations.
“So we want parents and caregivers to know — even grandparents, aunts, uncles — if you're the last one alone with a baby or a toddler before they display the wrong symptoms and show up at an emergency room, they could quickly find themselves in the crosshairs of a child abuse pediatrician who has tunnel vision,” Burns said.
At the center of the podcast is the case of Robert Roberson, an East Texas man who has spent more than two decades on death row. Roberson was convicted on the same type of charge Burns and Roark once faced.
“We have a junk science bill here in Texas that you know helped provide relief for my brother, Andrew Roark here yet. Andrew yet. Robert Robertson sits on death row,” Burns said.
Roberson’s case drew national attention in 2024 when the Texas Legislature attempted to pause his execution in order to hear new evidence. The effort underscored ongoing debates over the role of medical testimony in criminal trials involving Shaken Baby Syndrome.
“We don't want to execute innocent people. It's happened unfortunately, but we should strive for that to never happen,” Burns said.
Roark says his own case bears striking similarities to Roberson’s, particularly when it comes to the medical findings used as evidence.
“The cap in my case was the exact same cap in his case... showing the triad, the brain bleeding, the brain swelling and the retinal hemorrhaging, that major similarity. Plus, had the child in my case died, I would probably be right there with Robert on death row,” Roark said.
Both men argue the issue comes down to what they call “junk science” — medical testimony they say is not supported by current peer‑reviewed research. Texas has a junk science law on the books that played a role in providing relief in their cases. Burns, however, says questions remain about whether the law is being properly applied.
“Junk science is a real problem in our courtrooms today,” Burns said.
Prosecutors and child abuse experts maintain that Shaken Baby Syndrome is a valid medical diagnosis supported by scientific consensus, a point that remains the subject of ongoing debate in both legal and medical communities.
Roark says many people do not realize how quickly suspicion can fall on caregivers when a child presents with unexplained injuries.
“If you bring a child that you can't explain —something happened to this child — when you bring them to the doctor, you're about to be accused of something. People just don't realize that,” Roark said.
Through Unshaken Truth, Burns and Roark hope their stories will not only raise awareness but also help drive changes in how Shaken Baby Syndrome cases are investigated and prosecuted. A link to their podcast can be found here.