Alabama executed a man using nitrogen gas for the second time on Thursday. Alan Eugene Miller, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m. local time at a south Alabama prison, The Associated Press reported.
The final words of Alan Miller, 57, a death row inmate convicted of killing three co-workers in 1999, were revealed following his execution by nitrogen gas on Thursday in Alabama.
Miller’s execution marks the second time in U.S. history that nitrogen gas, rather than lethal injection, was used to carry out the death penalty. He was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m. local time at a correctional facility in southern Alabama.
Nitrogen gas execution: A new method
The use of nitrogen gas in Miller’s execution follows ongoing concerns about the prolonged nature of lethal injections, which can sometimes take up to 10 minutes to cause death.
In this case, witnesses reported that Miller convulsed and trembled for approximately two minutes, with his body straining against the restraints. This was followed by six minutes of intermittent gasping for air before his death.
The state of Alabama had introduced nitrogen gas as an alternative method of execution, citing challenges with lethal injection drugs and their potential for prolonged suffering. This move follows a growing debate over execution methods and the ethics surrounding capital punishment.
Final hours
Miller was convicted for the brutal 1999 murders of three co-workers in Pelham, Alabama. His conviction brought an end to a trial marked by disturbing details of workplace violence.
On the night of his execution, Miller’s final meal consisted of hamburger steak, a baked potato, and fries.
As he faced his final moments, Miller’s chilling last words were released by officials. “I didn’t do anything to be in here,” Miller said in his final words, the AP reported. His words were at times muffled by the blue-rimmed gas mask that covered his face from forehead to chin. Witnesses described an unsettling scene as Miller, the second person in the U.S. to be executed using nitrogen gas, took his final breath.
A shift in execution methods
Historically, the death penalty in the U.S. has relied on lethal injection as the primary method of execution. However, issues with drug availability and concerns about inhumane procedures have pushed some states to explore alternative methods, such as nitrogen gas. The method, which replaces oxygen with nitrogen, causes unconsciousness followed by death due to lack of oxygen.
Proponents argue it is a quicker, less painful option, though it remains highly controversial. Miller’s case, and the adoption of nitrogen gas for his execution, may shape future debates about the use of this method in other states as they grapple with the evolving landscape of capital punishment.
As Alabama continues to refine its approach to capital punishment, the chilling final moments of Alan Miller’s life stand as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding this deeply divisive issue.