Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed by nitrogen gas for the first time in the United States in January. His cranium is secured to the gurney, and a gas mask is fastened to his face.
He was supported by his spiritual advisor. He beamingly beamed as he rendered the American Sign Language sign for “I love you” to his family, who were situated on the opposite side of the window in the witness room at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama.
Smith’s final words were, “Alabama caused humanity to take a step backward tonight.” I am departing with love, serenity, and light. I am grateful for your assistance; I cherish each of you.
Smith began to shake when the nitrogen began to flow, according to Lee Hedgepeth, a journalist who witnessed the execution.
“The metal frame of the gurney is protruding from the ground, and the bottom of the gurney is shaking violently,” Hedgepeth stated.
Smith began retching inside his mask after his shaking subsided. Hedgepeth has observed four executions in Alabama, but he has never encountered a reaction as intense as this.
The execution of Smith was a source of astonishment for witnesses, primarily because state officials had predicted that the nitrogen solution would induce unconsciousness within seconds.
Hedgepeth stated, “We were informed that Mr. Smith would succumb to unconsciousness quickly, that there would be minimal resistance, and that this would be a relatively calm death.”
Even though there is a sign in the witness room that instructs witnesses to remain silent, Smith’s wife is weeping throughout the execution.
“There is a printed tag at the top of the window that allows you to observe the execution. The tag instructs you to remain silent and sit down,” Hedgepeth stated. “That has consistently resonated with me as a representation of the state’s perspective on the individuals who are present at the execution.”
