
Alabama Executes Alan Eugene Miller Using Controversial Nitrogen Gas Method.
Alabama executed Alan Eugene Miller, convicted of killing three coworkers in 1999, using nitrogen gas, marking the second time this controversial method has been employed in the United States.
At a Glance
- Alan Eugene Miller was executed in Alabama using nitrogen gas for a 1999 triple murder
- Miller maintained his innocence until his final moments
- The execution sparked debate over the humanity and effectiveness of nitrogen hypoxia
- Alabama officials claim the execution went as planned, while witnesses describe a visible struggle
- Human rights groups have condemned the nitrogen gas method as inhumane
Execution Carried Out Despite Controversy
On Thursday evening, the state of Alabama executed Alan Eugene Miller, 59, using nitrogen gas at a south Alabama prison. Miller, convicted of killing three men in workplace shootings in 1999, was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m. local time. The execution came after a failed lethal injection attempt in September 2022, which was called off due to difficulties with intravenous line insertion.
Alabama’s decision to use nitrogen hypoxia, a newly ratified execution technique, has stirred significant debate and scrutiny. The method involves breathing pure nitrogen, depriving the body of oxygen. Proponents argue it is humane and painless, while critics contend it is untested and potentially cruel.
Alan Eugene Miller has been executed in Alabama, according to Gov. Kay Ivey’s office. He has become the second death row inmate known to die by nitrogen gas, a controversial capital punishment method critics call torture. https://t.co/5q3hOz53SR
— CNN (@CNN) September 27, 2024
Final Moments and Conflicting Accounts
In his final words, muffled by the blue-rimmed gas mask covering his face, Miller maintained his innocence, stating, “I didn’t do anything to be in here.” Witnesses reported that Miller exhibited shaking and trembling for about two minutes, followed by six minutes of periodic gulping breaths before becoming still.
“Just like in Smith we talked about there is going to be involuntarily body movements as the body is depleted of oxygen. So that was nothing we did not expect,” Hamm said, explaining the nitrogen gas flowed for 15 minutes. “Everything went according to plan and according to our protocol.”
Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm stated the movements were anticipated and the execution went according to plan. However, some witnesses, including Lauren Gill, contradicted the state’s version, describing Miller’s visible struggle and gasping for air.
Official Statements and Criticism
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared justice had been served, while Attorney General Steve Marshall stated the execution went as expected and without incident. However, human rights groups and medical experts have strongly criticized the use of nitrogen gas as an execution method.
“Tonight, justice was finally served for these three victims through the execution method elected by the inmate,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement. “His acts were not that of insanity, but pure evil. Three families were forever changed by his heinous crimes, and I pray that they can find comfort all these years later.”
Dr. Joel Zivot, who reviewed a previous nitrogen execution, argued that the method is cruel and unproven. The conflicting accounts of Miller’s final moments have only intensified the debate surrounding Alabama’s execution methods and the ethical considerations of nitrogen hypoxia.
Legal Battles and Background
Miller’s case involved a complex legal history, including an initial plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, which he later withdrew. Jurors convicted Miller after just 20 minutes of deliberation and recommended the death penalty by a 10-2 vote. His victims, Terry Jarvis, Lee Holdbrooks, and Scott Yancy, were killed at their workplaces in Pelham, Alabama.
Prior to the execution, Miller had challenged the nitrogen gas protocol but dropped his lawsuit after reaching a settlement with the state. His troubled upbringing, marked by extreme abuse and a family history of mental illness, was noted in his background.
As the debate over execution methods continues, Miller’s case highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding capital punishment in the United States, particularly regarding the search for what some consider more humane execution methods.