Alabama Man Executed by Nitrogen Gas for 1993 Murder

An Alabama man, Anthony Boyd, was executed using nitrogen gas on Thursday for his involvement in a tragic incident where a man was burned alive over a $200 drug debt back in 1993.

Boyd, who was 54 years old, was pronounced dead at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility at 6:33 p.m. Alabama has been utilizing nitrogen gas for executions since last year.

Convicted in Talladega County, Boyd played a role in the murder of Gregory Huguely, who prosecutors stated was set on fire after failing to repay a cocaine debt.

In his final statement, Boyd maintained that he was innocent and expressed criticism towards the criminal justice system, saying, “I didn’t kill anyone. I didn’t take part in the killing.” He also called for systemic change, stating, “There will be no justice unless we change this system,” and offered words of support for others who are still fighting against similar injustices.

There were reports that this execution took longer than previous ones conducted using nitrogen gas. The exact moment when the gas began to flow is unclear.

Witnesses noted that around 5:57 p.m., Boyd showed signs of distress, clenching his fists and lifting his head slightly while shaking. A few minutes later, he lifted his leg off the stretcher before beginning a series of deep breaths that continued for about 15 minutes, eventually stopping. The prison wardens monitored Boyd’s condition and continued the gas flow for an additional five minutes after he was declared to have no heartbeat.

During his trial, a prosecution witness testified under a plea deal, claiming that after Boyd bound Huguely’s legs, an accomplice poured gasoline on him and ignited him. Defense attorneys argued that this testimony was unreliable, as the witness had been at a party when Huguely was killed. The jury ultimately found Boyd guilty of capital murder during a kidnapping, recommending the death penalty with a 10-2 vote.

Alabama’s Attorney General Steve Marshall reiterated the state’s commitment to upholding justice for crime victims, noting that Boyd had spent more than 30 years pursuing legal challenges without presenting evidence that could overturn the jury’s decision.

Boyd had been on death row since 1995 and had recently taken on the role of president of Project Hope, an organization aimed at abolishing the death penalty, which was founded by inmates.

There was some inconsistency in reports regarding the execution. The Rev. Jeff Hood, who witnessed Boyd’s death and was present during Alabama’s initial nitrogen gas execution, expressed disapproval of the process. He criticized the state, stating that the execution method had been promised as “quick and painless,” but lamented that it was anything but that. Hood believed Boyd might have been semi-conscious during the execution, claiming he could discern some communication through Boyd’s leg movements.

In contrast, Alabama’s Department of Corrections Director Jon Hamm argued that Boyd’s movements were involuntary and indicated that while this execution took longer, other executions have generally been completed more swiftly.

Boyd’s attorneys had sought to stop the execution, hoping for a closer examination of the nitrogen gas method, but a federal judge dismissed this request. The U.S. Supreme Court also denied a last-minute appeal for Boyd to be executed by firing squad instead.

A strong dissent came from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. She highlighted the troubling nature of nitrogen gas executions, stating that there is significant evidence suggesting they are unconstitutional, and raised concerns about the implications of allowing such methods to persist.

State officials contended that any tremors or gasping from inmates during executions were involuntary and primarily due to lack of oxygen.