Alabama executed Alan Eugene Miller on September 26, 2024, using nitrogen gas, marking the second use of this controversial method in the United States. Miller, 59, was convicted of murdering three men in a series of workplace shootings in 1999.
Details of the Execution
Miller was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m. at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. Witnesses reported that he shook and trembled on the gurney for approximately two minutes before exhibiting gasping breaths for six minutes. Before his execution, Miller had seven visitors on Wednesday and nine on Thursday, and his final meal included hamburger steak, baked potatoes, and French fries.
Background on the Case
Miller was found guilty of the 1999 shootings of Lee Holdbrooks, Christopher Scott Yancy, and Terry Jarvis in Pelham, Alabama. The state had previously attempted to execute him by lethal injection in 2022, but the execution was called off when officials could not establish an IV line.
Controversy Surrounding Nitrogen Gas Method
Nitrogen gas execution involves placing a mask over the inmate’s face to replace breathable air with pure nitrogen, leading to death by asphyxiation. This method was first employed in Alabama in January 2024 during Kenneth Smith’s execution. After Smith’s execution, there were debates over whether he experienced excessive pain, as he reportedly shook in spasms before gasping for breath.
Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm labeled Smith’s execution as “textbook,” despite the outcry from critics who suggested the mask may not have been properly fitted.
Context of Recent Executions
Miller was one of five inmates scheduled for execution within a single week, highlighting a rare spike in the use of the death penalty in the U.S., reversing a long-term decline. Recent executions included one in South Carolina, which was the state’s first in over a decade, and others in Texas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
Miller’s case shocked the community; witnesses described him as paranoid, believing his coworkers were gossiping about him prior to the shootings. Initially pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, he later withdrew that plea. Jurors convicted him after only 20 minutes of deliberation, with a 10-2 vote recommending the death penalty.
Legal Challenges
In 2022, Miller challenged the nitrogen gas protocol but later dropped his lawsuit following an undisclosed settlement with the state. As the use of nitrogen gas continues to be scrutinized, the debate over its humaneness and the overall application of the death penalty in the U.S. remains ongoing.
