Summary
The execution of Alan Eugene Miller by nitrogen hypoxia in Alabama marks a significant moment in the U.S. capital punishment landscape, as it is only the second execution using this method in the nation’s history. Miller, sentenced to death for the 1999 murders of three individuals during a workplace shooting, was executed on September 26, 2024, following complications that had delayed his lethal injection execution in 2022.
Nitrogen hypoxia involves administering pure nitrogen gas to induce death by oxygen deprivation, a method that Alabama has recently adopted as an alternative to lethal injection. This execution is part of a broader trend, with Alabama being one of only three states to authorize nitrogen hypoxia. The method has drawn mixed reactions regarding its perceived humaneness, with Alabama’s attorney general defending its use while critics raise concerns about its potential for pain and suffering. Miller’s execution also contributes to a notable increase in capital punishment in the U.S., with five executions occurring in a single week, the highest number since 2003, raising questions about the future of the death penalty amid ongoing debates about its ethics and application.
Alabama executes second death row inmate by nitrogen hypoxia
Sep. 27 / Upi “ Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Alabama conducted the United States' second execution with the use of nitrogen gas on Thursday evening, finally killing Alan Eugene Miller...
Alabama carries out second nitrogen gas execution in US
Sep. 27 / The Bbc “ The US state of Alabama has executed Alan Eugene Miller - the second American ever put to death by inhaling nitrogen gas. Miller, 59, was sentenced to death...