New Execution Method in Alabama: What It Means for Capital Punishment

Hands gripping prison bars tightly in dim light

Alabama executes Demetrius Terrence Frazier using nitrogen gas, marking the fourth such execution in the United States.

Quick Takes

Frazier was executed for the 1991 murder and rape of Pauline Brown in Birmingham, Alabama.
This execution is the fourth instance in the U.S. where nitrogen gas was used for capital punishment.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall affirm the execution as a rightful conclusion to the legal process.
The use of nitrogen gas for executions remains controversial, with opponents labeling it as torture.
Frazier apologized to Brown’s family in his last words.

Alabama Pioneers Nitrogen Gas Executions

Alabama has once again made headlines in the ongoing debate surrounding capital punishment. Demetrius Terrence Frazier, convicted of the 1991 murder and rape of Pauline Brown in Birmingham, was executed using nitrogen gas. This marks the fourth such execution in the United States, with Alabama leading the way in implementing this controversial method. The state first employed nitrogen gas for executions last year, setting a precedent that has since been followed in subsequent cases.

Alabama inmate Demetrius Frazier was executed at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore for the 1991 slaying of a Birmingham woman. pic.twitter.com/LAqGnUjPx9

— AL.com (@aldotcom) February 7, 2025

The execution method involves replacing oxygen with nitrogen gas, leading to death by asphyxiation. Proponents argue it is a humane alternative to lethal injection, while critics contend it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Frazier’s execution follows that of Kenneth Eugene Smith in January 2024, which was the first U.S. execution by nitrogen gas.

State Officials Defend the Execution

Alabama’s Governor Kay Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall have been steadfast in their support of the execution. Governor Ivey emphasized the state’s commitment to enforcing the law, while Marshall pointed to the long-awaited justice for Pauline Brown’s family.

Marshall further elaborated on the state’s position, stating, “For more than three decades, the family of Pauline Brown has waited for justice.” This sentiment underscores the state’s view that the execution serves as a rightful conclusion to an extensive legal process, offering solace to the victim’s family.

Controversy Surrounding Nitrogen Gas Executions

The use of nitrogen gas for executions has sparked intense debate. Opponents label it as torture, arguing that it violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Frazier’s lawyers attempted to challenge the method on these grounds, but their arguments were ultimately rejected.

Witnesses to Frazier’s execution described his physical reactions, including twitching and struggling to breathe. These accounts have fueled the ongoing controversy surrounding the method’s humaneness and efficacy.

Frazier’s Final Moments and Background

In his last words, Frazier expressed remorse for his actions stating, “I want to apologize to the family and friends of Pauline Brown. What happened to her should have never happened.” This apology came after a last meal that included burritos, a chicken chalupa, chips and dip, and Mountain Dew.

Frazier’s life was marked by a troubled childhood of neglect, abuse, and poverty. He dropped out of high school before obtaining a GED. Prior to his execution in Alabama, Frazier was serving a life sentence in Michigan for the murder of 14-year-old Crystal Kendrick.

The execution of Demetrius Terrence Frazier reignites the discourse on nitrogen gas’s role within capital punishment, examining both its deterrent effect and moral implications. As states continue to grapple with methods of capital punishment, the use of nitrogen gas remains a contentious issue in the ongoing debate over the death penalty in America.