Alabama Executes Third Inmate with Nitrogen Gas
In a historic execution, Carey Dale Grayson, 50, became the third person to be put to death by nitrogen gas in Alabama and the United States. His execution took place on Thursday evening at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s denial of a last-minute appeal. Grayson was convicted for the 1994 murder of Vickie Deblieux, a 37-year-old hitchhiker who was tragically killed by Grayson and his accomplices.
Deblieux was hitchhiking from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Louisiana when the four teenagers offered her a ride. After luring her to a secluded area, they violently attacked her, ultimately throwing her off a cliff before mutilating her body. Grayson was the only one sentenced to death as he was 19 at the time, while the others were minors. Following the execution, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed hope for the Deblieux family, stating that the state had delivered long-awaited justice.
This execution marked the third use of nitrogen gas as a method of execution in Alabama, which began implementing it this year as a new alternative to lethal injection. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the technique after witnessing distressing reactions from the first two inmates executed by this method. Legal representations for Grayson argued that the protocol requires closer examination to ensure it meets constitutional standards, particularly with regard to the humane treatment of condemned inmates.
Despite claims of the method’s effectiveness, the recent executions by nitrogen gas have sparked debates on its ethical implications. As Alabama continues to navigate these new waters, it remains to be seen how this execution method will evolve or be scrutinized in the future.
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