Louisiana executes convicted murderer Jessie Hoffman Jr. in 19-minute nitrogen gas execution, raising concerns over method
Louisiana carried out its first nitrogen gas execution on Tuesday, putting convicted murderer Jessie Hoffman Jr. to death after nearly three decades on death row. The 46-year-old was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, following a 19-minute execution process.
The execution, conducted via nitrogen hypoxia, was only the fifth in U.S. history and the first in Louisiana. Prison officials described the process as "flawless," but witnesses reported seeing Hoffman twitching and clenching his hands as the gas flowed. According to reports, he took his final visible breath at 6:37 p.m. before the curtains to the execution chamber were closed.
Hoffman was convicted in the 1996 abduction, rape, and murder of 28-year-old advertising executive Mary "Molly" Elliott in New Orleans. His attorneys fought to stop the execution, arguing that nitrogen hypoxia violates the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual punishment. They also claimed it infringed on his religious rights as a Buddhist, as he was unable to practice his breathing meditation in his final moments.
"Mr. Hoffman sincerely believes that he must practice his Buddhist breathing exercises at the critical transition between life and death," his lawyers stated. Despite these pleas, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in a 5-4 decision. His spiritual adviser was present, chanting beside him as he was executed.
Outside the prison, a small group of protesters gathered, holding signs that read, "Let Jessie Live!" and distributing prayer cards featuring Hoffman's photo. Meanwhile, Molly Elliott's husband, Andy Elliott, called the execution "bittersweet news," stating, "There is relief that this long nightmare is finally over but also renewed grief for Molly and sadness for Mr. Hoffman's family, whose nightmare began when mine did."
Despite controversy surrounding the method, Louisiana officials have defended nitrogen executions, claiming they are painless. However, Hoffman's execution, much like Alabama's previous use of the method, has reignited debate over the ethics of capital punishment in the United States.
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Express Tribune
19-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Jessie Hoffman executed in Louisiana using nitrogen gas after 15-year pause
Listen to article Louisiana carried out its first execution in more than a decade on March 18, 2025, putting Jessie Hoffman Jr to death using nitrogen gas. Hoffman, 46, was convicted for the 1996 rape and murder of Mary "Molly" Elliott, an advertising executive. The execution, which took place at the Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola Prison), marks a significant shift in the state's approach to capital punishment. Louisiana is now the second US state to use nitrogen gas hypoxia, a method that has drawn sharp criticism from legal experts, human rights organisations, and religious groups. Execution details and reactions Hoffman was strapped to a gurney and forced to inhale pure nitrogen gas through a mask for 19 minutes. Witnesses reported that his body shook for a few minutes, followed by shallow breathing before he stopped moving. Media witnesses noted that Hoffman's head and forearms were visible, while the rest of his body was covered by a thick gray blanket. Before the execution, his Buddhist spiritual advisor chanted, and after Hoffman was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m., the advisor continued the prayers. Hoffman declined a final meal and did not offer any last words. His attorney, Caroline Tillman, condemned the execution in a statement: 'The State of Louisiana took the life of Jessie Hoffman, a man who was deeply loved, who brought light to those around him, and who spent nearly three decades proving that people can change. It took his life not because justice demanded it, but because it was determined to move forward with an execution.' State officials defend execution Governor Jeff Landry, a strong proponent of capital punishment, defended the decision, arguing that resuming executions fulfills a 'contractual promise' to crime victims. "When death row is empty, we don't have to fill it or put another person on it," Landry said in a radio interview Tuesday morning. 'But that's going to depend upon the conduct of individuals, not on society as a whole.' Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill stated that her office would begin reviewing other capital cases, though she did not provide an estimate of how many additional executions could occur this year. 'We're going to start working our way through motions and begin to clear the underbrush and move these cases forward,' Murrill said. 'Everybody deserves the justice that the state promised to them.' Neither Landry nor Murrill attended the execution. Legal challenges and Supreme Court decision Hoffman's attorneys made multiple last-minute appeals, arguing that the nitrogen gas method violated his religious freedom as it interfered with his Buddhist meditative breathing practices. They also cited concerns about potential terror and pain, which they said could violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Their efforts were unsuccessful. The US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against issuing a stay of execution, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting. Justice Neil Gorsuch also dissented, citing religious freedom concerns. Victim's family reacts Andy Elliott, the widower of Mary "Molly" Elliott, said he had become indifferent over the years regarding the execution vs. life imprisonment. "The pain is something we simply have learned to live with," Elliott told the New Orleans Times-Picayune last week. "That pain cannot be decreased by another death, nor by commuting the sentence of Molly's assailant to life in prison." Protests and outcry against execution Opposition to Louisiana's return to capital punishment was visible outside Angola Prison, where activists gathered throughout the day. Among them was Alison McCrary, director of Louisiana InterFaith Against Executions, who pointed to Louisiana's high rate of overturned death penalty convictions as a reason to abolish executions altogether. 'Death is an irreversible punishment. Once you take a life, you can't take it back,' she said. 'And knowing that we get it wrong 80% of the time, the state of Louisiana is determined to take this risk of getting it wrong.' Hoffman's family also spoke out. His wife, Ilona Hoffman, called him a 'loyal friend' and 'the most amazing husband', while his son, Jessie Smith, said his father was not the person portrayed in news reports. 'The person I see and the person I read in the articles are two different people,' Smith said at a demonstration in Baton Rouge. 'I just wish other people would see the same.' Louisiana Follows Alabama's lead on gas executions Alabama was the first state to use nitrogen gas hypoxia, executing Kenny Smith in January 2024. Witnesses described his execution as violent, with Smith convulsing and struggling for several minutes. Since then, three additional gas executions have taken place in Alabama, all involving reports of visible distress among those executed. Louisiana modeled its execution method on Alabama's, making 'improvements' based on previous cases, according to Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections Secretary Gary Westcott. 'We actually probably did a little bit better than they did with some of the equipment,' Westcott said. 'We've made some tweaks to what they did. [The execution] was flawless. It went about as good as we can expect." States including Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Arkansas have also approved nitrogen gas as an execution method, with Arkansas signing the measure into law on Tuesday, just hours before Hoffman's execution. Despite state officials defending the method, death penalty opponents vow to continue challenging nitrogen gas executions. Abraham Bonowitz, executive director of Death Penalty Action, said he expects future court battles over the method. 'I'm hopeful that sooner or later, a court is going to hear the witnesses who are not state officials about the torture that suffocation execution is — and at that point, it will be found to be cruel and unusual, a violation of the Eighth Amendment.' With 55 inmates still on Louisiana's death row, the state's return to capital punishment signals a new era of enforcement, though the legal and ethical debate over nitrogen gas executions is far from settled.
Express Tribune
19-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Louisiana executes convicted murderer Jessie Hoffman Jr. in 19-minute nitrogen gas execution, raising concerns over method
Louisiana carried out its first nitrogen gas execution on Tuesday, putting convicted murderer Jessie Hoffman Jr. to death after nearly three decades on death row. The 46-year-old was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, following a 19-minute execution process. The execution, conducted via nitrogen hypoxia, was only the fifth in U.S. history and the first in Louisiana. Prison officials described the process as "flawless," but witnesses reported seeing Hoffman twitching and clenching his hands as the gas flowed. According to reports, he took his final visible breath at 6:37 p.m. before the curtains to the execution chamber were closed. Hoffman was convicted in the 1996 abduction, rape, and murder of 28-year-old advertising executive Mary "Molly" Elliott in New Orleans. His attorneys fought to stop the execution, arguing that nitrogen hypoxia violates the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual punishment. They also claimed it infringed on his religious rights as a Buddhist, as he was unable to practice his breathing meditation in his final moments. "Mr. Hoffman sincerely believes that he must practice his Buddhist breathing exercises at the critical transition between life and death," his lawyers stated. Despite these pleas, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in a 5-4 decision. His spiritual adviser was present, chanting beside him as he was executed. Outside the prison, a small group of protesters gathered, holding signs that read, "Let Jessie Live!" and distributing prayer cards featuring Hoffman's photo. Meanwhile, Molly Elliott's husband, Andy Elliott, called the execution "bittersweet news," stating, "There is relief that this long nightmare is finally over but also renewed grief for Molly and sadness for Mr. Hoffman's family, whose nightmare began when mine did." Despite controversy surrounding the method, Louisiana officials have defended nitrogen executions, claiming they are painless. However, Hoffman's execution, much like Alabama's previous use of the method, has reignited debate over the ethics of capital punishment in the United States.
Express Tribune
18-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Louisiana to execute prisoner using nitrogen gas banned for animal euthanasia
Listen to article The US state of Louisiana is set to carry out its first execution in 15 years using nitrogen gas, a method that is banned under the state's own laws for euthanizing cats and dogs. Unless the US Supreme Court intervenes, Jessie Hoffman, a 46-year-old prisoner, is scheduled to be executed in Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola Prison. Hoffman was sentenced to death for the 1996 rape and murder of advertising executive Mary Elliott. If the execution proceeds, Louisiana will become only the second US state to use nitrogen gas for capital punishment. Photo: Jessie Hoffman/ Jessie Hoffman legal team Why Is nitrogen gas controversial? Nitrogen gas causes death by suffocation, depriving the body of oxygen in a process called hypoxia. The method has been widely criticized as inhumane, even for animals. The American Veterinary Medical Association states that nitrogen should not be used to euthanize conscious animals because they experience extreme distress before death. Louisiana law explicitly bans nitrogen gas for euthanizing cats and dogs due to its inhumane nature. A veterinarian in Louisiana, Dr. Lee Capone, recalled witnessing dogs being gassed in the 1980s and described it as horrific, with the animals showing fear, distress, and signs of suffering before they died. Concerns over past executions using nitrogen gas Louisiana's decision follows four recent executions in Alabama using the same method. Witnesses described disturbing scenes: Kenneth Smith was seen shaking violently, writhing, and convulsing as he was forced to inhale nitrogen. Alan Miller, another prisoner, shook and trembled for about two minutes before dying. Critics argue that nitrogen gas causes immense suffering, making it a cruel and unusual punishment under international human rights standards. Legal challenges and secret preparations Hoffman was granted a temporary reprieve last week by a federal judge. However, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative courts in the US, overturned the stay on Friday, clearing the way for the execution. Legal documents have revealed photographs from inside Louisiana's execution chamber, showing: A blue industrial-style mask placed on the execution gurney alongside leather straps and handcuffs. Pipes leading to nitrogen gas canisters, indicating how the lethal gas will be delivered Did Louisiana obtain execution gas illegally? Last year, three major US suppliers of medical-grade nitrogen—Airgas, Air Products, and Matheson Gas—banned the use of their products for executions. Despite this, court documents show that Louisiana has acquired nitrogen gas produced by Airgas, a company owned by the French multinational Air Liquide. This appears to violate Airgas' own policy, which explicitly forbids supplying gas for executions. The Guardian contacted Airgas for comment, but the company has yet to respond. Growing international concern over US execution methods The use of nitrogen gas for executions is drawing global criticism, with human rights groups and medical professionals warning against the suffering it causes. Many see Louisiana's decision as a step backward in human rights, especially considering that its use is banned for animals in the same state. The fate of Jessie Hoffman now depends on last-minute legal appeals or intervention from the US Supreme Court before the execution scheduled for Tuesday.
