Atmore, Alabama — Today, a historic event is set to take place as Alabama prepares to execute Kenneth Eugene Smith, utilizing nitrogen gas. This groundbreaking execution method has never been used before in the United States, and legal challenges are being fought to halt its implementation. In the final hours leading up to the execution, preparations are underway at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.
An Uncharted Execution Method
Smith, 58, will be subjected to nitrogen hypoxia, an untested procedure where he will be fastened to a gurney and made to inhale nitrogen gas through a mask, resulting in oxygen deprivation. The scheduled execution will take place at 6 p.m. local time. However, the timing remains uncertain due to the potential intervention of the U.S. Supreme Court. Alabama has faced complications with lethal injections in the past, prompting officials to reevaluate the execution process.
A Remarkable Survivor’s Fate
Smith’s case is exceptional, as he previously survived an attempted execution. In 2022, prison staff failed to properly insert needles for a lethal injection. The traumatic experience left him with post-traumatic stress disorder and frequent vomiting. Concerns have been raised by his legal team that he may vomit and choke while wearing the mask in the death chamber. In response, the prison will only provide Smith with clear liquids after his final meal.
Unanswered Legal Challenges
Smith’s lawyers have lodged a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to block the execution, emphasizing the unknowns surrounding Alabama’s redacted execution protocol. Despite these arguments, a federal appeals court ruled that the use of nitrogen hypoxia is not inherently cruel and unusual. Alabama approved this execution method in 2018, as the state faced difficulties in obtaining the necessary drugs for lethal injections. While Oklahoma and Mississippi have also approved nitrogen hypoxia, neither state has implemented it.
Safety Concerns and Last Rites
The Rev. Jeff Hood, Smith’s spiritual adviser, will be present in the execution room to administer Smith’s last rites. However, Hood has expressed doubts about the safety measures in place. He received an orientation from prison officials, but the absence of a comprehensive safety plan has increased his anxiety. Hood initially had to sign a waiver agreeing to keep a certain distance from Smith during the execution. Concerns over potential asphyxiation and seizures persist, although state officials dismiss these worries as speculative.
Reflections and Closure
As the execution looms closer, Smith expressed remorse over his actions but firmly believes that the use of nitrogen gas as an execution method will create more victims. Smith was involved in the murder-for-hire slaying of a preacher’s wife in 1988. Charles Sennett, the pastor who orchestrated the crime, hired Smith and two others. Elizabeth Sennett, the victim, was brutally murdered in her home. Charles Sennett died by suicide, and one of the accomplices was executed in 2010. Elizabeth’s adult sons seek closure after more than three decades without their mother. Although they have forgiven Smith, they state that he has never expressed remorse or offered an apology.
To read more about this story, visit F5mag.com.
Abigail Brooks and Dasha Burns reported from Atmore, and Erik Ortiz from New York.