Alabama
Alabama Carries Out First Nitrogen Gas Execution In The U.S. That Critics Have Called Inhumane
Topline
Alabama executed a death row inmate using nitrogen gas Thursday, marking the first time a convict was put to death in the U.S. using a method critics have called experimental, inhumane and a potential breach of international conventions against torture.
Anti-death penalty activists place signs along the road heading to Holman Correctional Facility in … [+]
Key Facts
Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, who had been sentenced to death for a 1988 murder, was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m., a state corrections official said in a press conference on Thursday night.
Smith’s execution was carried out by strapping him to a gurney and using a mask that would force him to breathe nitrogen gas and deprive him of oxygen.
According to a pool of reporters who attended the execution, the Smith appeared to remain conscious for several minutes and “visibly shook and writhed against the gurney” after the gas was pumped into the mask.
Despite the state’s earlier claims that the nitrogen execution would cause almost immediate unconsciousness, the reporters said the gas began flowing at 7:58 p.m. local time, while he appeared to stop breathing ten minutes later at 8:08 p.m.
Corrections officials told reporters Smith may have been “holding his breath as long as he could” and said his struggling against the restraints was “an involuntary movement.”
While delivering his final statement, Smith said: “Tonight, Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards.”
Key Background
Smith had remained on death for over 30 years after being convicted for his involvement in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett in 1988. Sennett, who was a pastor’s wife, was beaten and stabbed to death at her home in Colbert County, Alabama. Smith confessed to his involvement in the murder and was paid $1,000 for it. He survived an earlier execution attempt by lethal injection in November 2022. The “botched” execution attempt saw Smith being jabbed multiple times, causing him extreme pain. After failing to proceed with the lethal injection route, Alabama officials decided to execute Smith using the nitrogen gas method.
Tangent
Earlier this month a federal judge ruled Alabama would be allowed to proceed with the execution via nitrogen. On Wednesday, Smith’s appeal to delay the execution was rejected by the Supreme Court and a day later the top court also rejected his request for a stay on the execution—with three justices dissenting.
Crucial Quote
Lee Hedgepeth, one of the reporters who witnessed the execution told the New York Times: “This was the fifth execution that I’ve witnessed in Alabama, and I have never seen such a violent reaction to an execution.”
Chief Critic
“Having failed to kill Smith on its first attempt, Alabama has selected him as its “guinea pig” to test a method of execution never attempted before,” Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor said in her dissenting opinion on Thursday’s ruling.
Further Reading
Judge Rules Alabama Can Carry Out Nation’s First Execution Via Nitrogen Gas (Forbes)
U.S. Should Halt First Planned Execution By Nitrogen Gas, UN Experts Say (Forbes)
Prosecutors say Luther Davis wore wigs and makeup to disguise himself as NFL players in a sham loan scheme.
Alabama’s Luther Davis reacts after its 32-13 win over Florida in the SEC championship NCAA college football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Dec. 5, 2009. Davis pleaded guilty Monday to fraud in a $20 million federal case accusing him of impersonating NFL players to secure loans. (Dave Martin/AP)
A former defensive tackle at the University of Alabama pleaded guilty Monday to felony charges in a federal case accusing him of wearing wigs and makeup to impersonate NFL players and fraudulently secure almost $20 million in loans.
Luther Davis, 37, pleaded guilty to single counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a deal with prosecutors.
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Journalist Rosie Manins is a legal affairs reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Tennessee softball coach Karen Weekly ran up to Sage Mardjetko and sneaked in a kiss on her cheek as the junior pitcher’s postgame interview on ESPN2 began.
Mardjetko only got through the beginning of her first answer before her teammates ran up with fake money and gloves, stuffing the fake bills in her belt with the glove on top of her head.
At one point, there were six teammates dressing up Mardjetko after her fantastic performance against No. 3 Alabama, including fellow pitcher Karlyn Pickens and outfielder Gabby Leach, who hit the game-winning home run. Other players joined in to throw bills in the air around Mardjetko.
The moment on April 26 belonged to Mardjetko, who delivered the Crimson Tide their first shutout loss of the season as No. 8 Tennessee won 2-0 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
By the time Mardjetko’s interview was over, there were three gloves sitting precariously on her head, bills stuffed in her collar, too, and bats leaning against her legs, with one stuck in the crook of her elbow.
“Usually this is our home run celebration,” Mardjetko said on ESPN2. “My teammates are just super fired-up, they know how big this game is and how big this series is.”
The Lady Vols’ famous mommy hat also got stacked on top of the gloves before falling off. Leach said they love getting the chance to have some fun with postgame interviews.
“That was just such a big moment for her and just being able to celebrate and make her look goofy, giving her the money and the mommy hat, she never gets to wear that,” Leach said. “So that was the perfect moment for her to have that hat on.”
Tennessee (39-8, 13-7 SEC) relied on solo home runs from Leach and Emma Clarke to back up Mardjetko’s one-hitter and force a rubber match on April 27 (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
“Sage is a competitor. She’s going to give you everything she has,” Weekly said. “She’s going to compete freely, she’s going to stay one pitch at a time, and she’s got the stuff to beat anybody. So, I had complete trust in Sage all day long, and the most important number today is a zero on the scoreboard.”
Mardjetko (11-1) had a no-hitter through 6⅓ innings. She struck out six, walked three, hit a batter and allowed one hit in her fifth shutout of the season. After Tennessee got run-ruled in the series opener, Mardjetko said her mentality was to go out and compete and do whatever it took to give them a chance.
Weekly didn’t witness most of the postgame interview chaos; she only saw players running toward Mardjetko with the money, gloves and bats. But she wants them to celebrate, and not just the turnaround from a 12-0 loss in Game 1. Weekly wants them to celebrate everything.
“I think that’s one of the things that we got away from, is focusing on celebrating all the little wins in a game,” she said. “I think that’s what you saw, is the ultimate celebration there. And just so happy for Sage. But also Sage really inspired her team today with the way she competed out there.”
Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe
Governor Kay Ivey:
“God bless our President, First Lady and the men and women in law enforcement. Let us pray for our leaders each and every day.”
Representative Barry Moore:
“They’ve told countless lies about him.
They’ve tried to bankrupt him.
They’ve come after his family.
They’ve tried to put him in prison.
They’ve tried to assasinate him – three times.
And yet, President Trump continues to fight for the American people.
We need to get on our knees and pray for him and our country.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville:
“A lunatic just tried to take out President Trump AGAIN.
The demonization of the President and Republicans needs to end.
Praying for our President and our country.”
Congressman Gary Palmer:
“I’m very thankful for the swift action of the Secret Service and that the President and no one at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was injured.
Considering this is the third attempt on the President’s life, last year’s assassination of Charlie Kirk, and the 2017 Congressional baseball shooting, it’s clear that our nation is in a cultural and political crisis.
We should all be praying for the healing of our nation and for the return of civil discourse.”
Senator Katie Britt:
“Wesley and I are praying for the safety of the President, the First Lady, and all those attending the White House Correspondents dinner. Grateful for the brave men and women in uniform working to keep everyone safe.”
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