Alabama has carried out its second execution using nitrogen gas.
Nitrogen hypoxia has only been used once before in the nation’s history to carry out capital punishment.
The state executed Alan Eugene Miller on the evening of Sept. 26 at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility. After the mask dispensing the pure nitrogen gas was fixed to his face, Miller shook for approximately two minutes. He then periodically gulped for six minutes before he became still on the gurney. He was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m.
Advocates of nitrogen hypoxia argue the process is more humane than lethal injection because the gas makes the inmate lose consciousness quickly. They have also argued that it is less invasive and gives convicted prisoners a choice.
“When nitrogen — or another inert gas — is inhaled, and carbon dioxide is exhaled, bodily tissues become starved of oxygen,” reports the Montgomery Advertiser. “The body then quickly uses up the remaining oxygen within it before shutting down.”
Miller was convicted of murdering Lee Holdbrooks, Christopher Scott Yancy and Terry Jarvis in 1999 during a workplace shooting. Miller was a delivery truck driver who believed his co-workers were spreading rumors about him – including that he was gay. He killed Holdbrooks and Yancy at one of the company’s locations before driving to a second location and shooting Jarvis.
“A forensic psychiatrist who testified for Miller’s defense determined he was mentally ill and suffering a delusional disorder,” reports CNN. “The psychiatrist concluded, however, that Miller’s mental illness didn’t meet the standards for an insanity defense in Alabama.”
In 2022, Alabama called off Miller’s original execution by lethal injection after prison officials were unable to set up an IV because of issues with his veins. Officials reportedly attempted to insert a needle 18 different times over the course of two hours. The death warrant expired at midnight.
“Despite the circumstances that led to the cancellation of this execution, nothing will change the fact that a jury heard the evidence of this case and made a decision. It does not change the fact that Mr. Miller never disputed his crimes,” said Governor Kay Ivey in a statement, per WVTM13. “And it does not change the fact that three families still grieve. We all know full well that Michael Holdbrooks, Terry Lee Jarvis and Christopher Scott Yancey did not choose to die by bullets to the chest.”
Miller subsequently sued prison medical staff for “poking” him with needles during the failed execution. His legal team said their client hated needles and requested the use of nitrogen hypoxia, per MEAWW.
Alabama was the first state in the nation to use nitrogen gas to conduct an execution. Kenneth Eugene Smith was the first person on death row to undergo the alternative to lethal injection on Jan. 25.
Miller’s execution is one of four that took place in America during the last six days. A fifth execution – the last of the week– is scheduled for today.
