Missouri inmate executed for killing neighbor [pentobarbital avoids "botched" executions]

Associated Press ^ | August 6, 2014 | JIM SUHR

[grundle]

A Missouri inmate was put to death Wednesday for raping and killing a college student in 1995, making him the first U.S. prisoner put to death since an Arizona lethal injection went awry last month.

When the drugs began flowing, his head lowered back to the pillow and he appeared to breathe heavily for about 15 seconds before closing his eyes. Some of his witnesses began crying after he fell unconscious.

Texas and Missouri instead administer a single large dose of pentobarbital — often used to treat convulsions and seizures and to euthanize animals. Missouri changed to pentobarbital late last year and since has carried out executions during which inmates showed no obvious signs of distress.

DNA tests later linked Worthington to the slaying.

[USMCPOP]

“Personally I think we should experiment with exploding hats.....”

You made my day! :)

[Boogieman]

“It also has multiple manufacturers, so the chances of some PC bleeding heart pharmaceutical company trying to avoid sales to a correctional institution becomes all that more difficult.”

If this stuff keeps up, it might be a sensible investment to just open a pharmaceutical company only to produce the execution drugs that the rest won’t. You’ll have an instant monopoly, guaranteed client list, and you won’t need to care about boycotts because you won’t have any other customers.

[buwaya]

There is some anecdotal information that heads severed in this way retain consciousness for some seconds. It would be inconvenient or impractical to perform enough relevant research to rule this out.

[buwaya]

Well, yes, but we are high tech and civilized. So much better to use a high tech targeted device.

[buwaya]

There are probably OSHA regulations that may apply in this process.

[taxcontrol]

There have already been human “trials” in the form of industrial accidents. NASA has lost a couple of people over the years to this very type of accident. In fact it is so well known that Nitrogen Gas has it’s own MSDS sheet.

This sheet reads in part:

... Exposure to atmospheres containing <10% Oxygen will bring about unconsciousness without warning and so quickly that the individuals cannot help or protect themselves ....

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Are you sure you’re talking about nitrogen, and not CO2?

[Neoliberalnot]

Bring back sparky for those guilty without a doubt. OJ should be the first candidate.

[trisham]

"Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes,
they just don't know where to look."

~Ronald Reagan

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[Graybeard58]

I don’t get “witnesses” at executions, I wouldn’t choose to watch somebody die. I’ve seen plenty of people die but not by choice, it was never a pleasant experience to me.

(No, not even if it were the murderer of a loved one.)

[MAexile]

If this stuff keeps up, it might be a sensible investment to just open a pharmaceutical company only to produce the execution drugs that the rest won’t. You’ll have an instant monopoly, guaranteed client list, and you won’t need to care about boycotts because you won’t have any other customers.

I considered doing this after my previous employer laid me off.

The synthesis doesn't look too hard, I really don't have to worry about impurities too much, and I might not have to run all year, just make enough for he upcoming executions.

[Vigilanteman]

You have any idea what it costs to get FDA approval for a drug? And to off what? Less than 100 perps per year in the entire country? Do we even average one a week in Texas? I've heard the Lone Star State accounts for something like 60% of all executions nationwide.

Much more cost effective just to build a gallows and use a rope. Or phenobarbital.

[rmh47]

Should be a quick death and maybe the deceased can meet Allah on his way to Hades.

What!?!!

He will meet Allah when he gets to Hades.