MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama is preparing to execute convicted killer Alan Eugene Miller, using the nitrogen hypoxia method for the first time since it became an option in 2018. The execution is scheduled to take place between midnight on September 26 and midnight on September 27, 2024, following a failed attempt by lethal injection in 2022.
Miller, convicted of killing three men in a workplace shooting in 1999, was set to be executed in September 2022, but the process was halted after corrections staff were unable to establish an intravenous line in time. This failure has prompted scrutiny over the state’s execution protocols and raised broader concerns about Alabama’s efficiency in carrying out death sentences.
The upcoming execution will mark the second time Alabama has used nitrogen hypoxia as a method, following the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith earlier this year. Nitrogen hypoxia, which replaces oxygen with nitrogen to cause death, remains largely untested in practical terms, adding to concerns about whether Alabama’s methods are adequately prepared for use.
Alabama’s recent track record with executions has drawn criticism from death penalty opponents, who argue that the repeated delays and complications reflect deeper flaws in the state’s process. Inmates have previously taken steps to interfere with lethal injection protocols, such as dehydrating themselves to make it more difficult for officials to establish IV lines, further complicating an already contentious procedure.
As the state prepares for another attempt to execute Miller, questions remain about whether these issues point to broader inefficiencies in Alabama’s approach to capital punishment. While officials maintain that they are committed to ensuring justice is served, critics argue that the state’s execution process continues to be marred by significant challenges that warrant closer examination.