On Thursday evening, Alabama became the third state in the nation to carry out an execution using nitrogen gas.
The state executed Carey Dale Grayson, 50, at 6 p.m. CST/7 p.m. EST. Authorities sentenced him to death for the 1994 murder of 37-year-old Vickie Deblieux.
As the death warrant was read by the prison warden, Grayson was given the opportunity to share his final words into the microphone.
“For you, you need to f*** off,” Grayson said, according to Al.com.
The Alabama Department of Corrections has released the details of Grayson’s final meals and visitors, which have been obtained by Alabama Real-Time News.
Grayson declined the breakfast and lunch trays but opted for a cup of coffee and a refreshing Mountain Dew. For his last meal, he specifically requested a delectable seafood platter, soft tacos, beef burritos, a tantalizing tostada, some crispy chips accompanied by a flavorful guacamole, and to top it all off, a satisfying Mountain Dew Blast.
Grayson’s attorneys, Matt Schulz, Kacey Keeton, and Robin Konrad, visited him during his time in custody. Additionally, he had conversations with Konrad and Keeton over the phone, according to the report.
Grayson’s attorneys attempted to prevent his execution, asserting that the use of the nitrogen hypoxia method violates constitutional standards by causing excessive pain. Nevertheless, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected their appeal on Thursday afternoon.
What Crime Did Carey Dale Grayson Commit?
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Grayson, one of four teens convicted in the 1994 murder of Deblieux in Jefferson County, was sentenced to death. Prosecutors said Deblieux, who was hitchhiking from Tennessee to Louisiana, took a ride from the adolescents, who then drove her to a distant forested area, attacked her, hurled her down a cliff, and disfigured her body.
Grayson is the only member of the group still facing the death penalty. The United States Supreme Court remitted the sentences of two more teenagers after deciding against the execution of people under the age of 18 at the time of their offenses. Grayson was nineteen.
What Is The Nitrogen Gas Execution Method?
The nitrogen gas execution method involves placing a respirator mask over the inmate’s face and replacing breathing air with pure nitrogen, thereby causing death through oxygen deprivation. Critics worry that Alabama’s approach may not result in the swift death it promises, raising concerns about potential suffering.
In September, Alan Miller became the second person in the United States to undergo nitrogen gas execution. Media witnesses, including reporters from The Associated Press, described the men convulsing on the gurney for more than two minutes. Laborious breaths accompanied these movements, punctuated by extended pauses that lasted several minutes.
On Wednesday, US District Judge R. Austin Huffaker Jr. rejected a legal objection to Alabama’s use of nitrogen gas to execute Grayson. The challenge alleged that the procedure was unconstitutional or illegal, but the judge rejected the claim.
“Evidence concerning what actually happened, or what eyewitnesses observed during the Smith execution, was conflicting and inconsistent,” Huffaker said. “But what that evidence did show was that the nitrogen hypoxia protocol was successful and resulted in death in less than 10 minutes and loss of consciousness in even less time.”