Theexecution of Alan Eugene Miller(January 20, 1965 – September 26, 2024) took place in the U.S. state ofAlabamabynitrogen hypoxia.It was the second execution in both the world and state to use this particular method, following theexecution of Kenneth Eugene Smithin January 2024.[2]Miller was convicted of the August 1999 murders of three men inPelham, Alabama,and was sentenced to death in 2000.[3]
Alan Eugene Miller | |
|---|---|
 Miller in a 1999 police mugshot | |
| Born | January 20, 1965[1] Billingsley, Alabama,U.S. |
| Died | September 26, 2024(aged 59) Holman Correctional Facility,Alabama, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Execution bynitrogen hypoxia |
| Conviction(s) | Capital murder(3 counts) |
| Criminal penalty | Death(July 31, 2000) |
| Details | |
| Victims | Lee Michael Holdbrooks, 32 Christopher Scott Yancy, 28 Terry Lee Jarvis, 39 |
| Date | August 5, 1999 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Alabama |
| Imprisoned at | Holman Correctional Facility |
Crime
editOn August 5, 1999, Miller, armed with a.40-caliberGlockpistol,[4]shot and killed two of his co-workers, 32-year-old Lee Holdbrooks and 28-year-old Christopher Yancy, at a heating and air-conditioning distributor, then drove five miles to a business where he had previously worked and shot and killed his former supervisor, 39-year-old Terry Jarvis.[5][6]Holdbrooks was shot six times, Yancy was shot three times, and Jarvis was shot five times.[7]After the shooting, Miller drove off, only to be pulled over later that day on the side of an Alabama highway after being spotted by police. It required four officers and four sets of handcuffs to subdue him.[8]According to trial testimony, Miller's supposed motive behind the murders was that he believed the men were spreading rumors about him beinggay.[3]A psychiatrist hired by Miller's defense found he suffered from severe mental illness.[9]At the time of the shootings, he was employed as a delivery truck driver at Ferguson Enterprises in Pelham.[10]
Failed execution attempt
editMiller was scheduled to be executed vialethal injectionon September 22, 2022, but his execution was called off after prison staff failed to establish intravenous access to deliver a lethal injection.[9][11]It was concluded they would not be able to complete the execution by the midnight deadline.[9]Miller filed a federal lawsuit following the failed execution attempt.[12]In November 2022, the state of Alabama agreed it would not use lethal injection to execute Miller and would instead use nitrogen gas.[12]
Execution
editMiller was executed by nitrogen hypoxia at theHolman Correctional FacilityinAtmore, Alabama,on September 26, 2024.[2]He was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m. local time.[13][14]For hislast mealhe had a hamburger steak, a baked potato, and french fries.[15]His final words were, "I didn't do anything to be in here."[2]
It marked the second time that Alabama executed a condemned inmate using nitrogen hypoxia following theexecution of Kenneth Eugene Smithin January 2024.[2][16][17]According to witness Lauren Gill, "Miller visibly struggled for roughly two minutes, shaking and pulling at his restraints. He then spent the next 5-6 min intermittently gasping for air."[18]Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Q. Hamm said the shaking movements were anticipated. "Just like in [Kenneth Eugene] 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."[19]
Miller's execution was the 1,600th execution in the United States since the resumption of executions in 1976.[20]He was the last of five inmates to be executed across the United States in the span of one week, the most inmates executed within a week sinceJuly 2003.[20]The others wereFreddie Eugene Owensin South Carolina on September 20,Marcellus Williamsin Missouri andTravis Mullisin Texas on September 24, andEmmanuel Littlejohnin Oklahoma on the morning of September 26.[20][21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Alabama Inmates Currently on Death Row".Alabama Department of Corrections.Archived fromthe originalon October 24, 2012.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^abcdChandler, Kim (September 27, 2024)."Alabama puts man convicted of killing 3 to death in the country's second nitrogen gas execution".Associated Press.RetrievedSeptember 27,2024.
- ^ab"Death sentence in Ala. workplace shootings".United Press International.June 18, 2000.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^"MILLER v. STATE (2004)".caselaw.findlaw.com.
- ^Sue Anne Pressley (August 6, 1999)."Gunman Kills 3 at 2 Firms".The Washington Post.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^"Alabama gunman kills three".BBC News.August 5, 1999.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^Hrynkiw, Ivana (September 22, 2022)."'I just don't understand': Condemned Alabama inmate Alan Eugene Miller's victims described as loving, hardworking ".al.RetrievedSeptember 25,2024.
- ^staff, CBSNews com staff CBSNews com (August 5, 1999)."Ala. Shooting Inquiry Continues - CBS News".www.cbsnews.com.RetrievedSeptember 25,2024.
- ^abc"Alabama execution of man who killed 3 in workplace shooting called off for time and medical concerns".NBC News.September 23, 2022.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^Conlon, Riley (September 26, 2024)."Everything you need to know about Alabama's nitrogen hypoxia execution of Alan Eugene Miller".WVTM.RetrievedSeptember 26,2024.
- ^Mealins, Evan; Lyman, Brian (September 23, 2022)."Legal challenges, difficulty establishing an IV complicated hours before Miller's death warrant expired".Montgomery Advertiser.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^abKim, Chloe (February 22, 2024)."Second Alabama man to be executed by nitrogen gas".BBC News.Archivedfrom the original on June 8, 2024.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^Chandler, Kim (May 8, 2024)."Alabama schedules second execution by nitrogen gas".Associated Press.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^Roney, Jonathan Limehouse and Marty."Alan Eugene Miller becomes second inmate in US to be executed with nitrogen gas".USA TODAY.RetrievedSeptember 26,2024.
- ^Conlon, Riley (September 26, 2024)."Everything you need to know about Alabama's nitrogen hypoxia execution of Alan Eugene Miller".WVTM.RetrievedSeptember 26,2024.
- ^"US inmates executed by lethal drugs, nitrogen gas".The Straits Times.September 27, 2024.
- ^Chapoco, Ralph (May 8, 2024)."Gov. Kay Ivey schedules nitrogen execution for Alan Eugene Miller".Alabama Reflector.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^Gill, Lauren."I was a witness for Alabama's execution of Alan Miller by nitrogen gas tonight. Again, it did not go as state officials promised. Miller visibly struggled for roughly two minutes, shaking and pulling at his restraints. He then spent the next 5-6 min intermittently gasping for air".
- ^"Alabama puts man convicted of killing 3 to death in the country's second nitrogen gas execution".AP News.September 26, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 28,2024.
- ^abcCabral, Sam (September 27, 2024)."Alabama carries out second nitrogen gas execution in US".BBC News.RetrievedSeptember 27,2024.
- ^"There are 5 executions set over a week's span in the US. That's the most in decades".Associated Press.September 24, 2024.