Louisiana carried out its first execution using nitrogen gas on Tuesday, marking a historic event for the state and only the fifth occurrence of its kind in U.S. history. Death row inmate Jessie Hoffman was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. following a successful execution, according to Gary Westcott, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Hoffman’s execution, convicted for the brutal rape and murder of Molly Elliott in 1996, is the first in Louisiana in 15 years amidst challenges in obtaining lethal injection drugs.
Despite arguments against the use of nitrogen gas due to religious reasons, Hoffman’s execution proceeded smoothly after a series of legal challenges. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt the execution in a narrow decision just before it took place. Alabama was previously the only state to have used nitrogen gas for executions, conducting its first last year and three others since.
Attorney General Liz Murrill expressed that justice was served for Molly Elliott and Louisiana, while Hoffman’s attorney, Cecelia Kappel, criticized the execution as “senseless.” Witnesses described the execution process, noting Hoffman’s lack of final words before the gas was administered.
Hoffman, convicted for the murder of Molly Elliott in 1996, was executed without incident, with witnesses recounting the process in detail. Molly Elliott’s tragic death remains a somber reminder of the events leading up to the execution.
For approximately two weeks, in a fit of rage, Hoffman abducted Molly Elliott at gunpoint, coercing her to withdraw around $200 from an ATM, according to prosecutors. Even if he had released her at that juncture, prosecutors claimed it would have been “the most terrifying night of her life.”
Court documents stated that the ATM footage captured the fear on Ms. Elliott’s face as she withdrew funds from her account, with Hoffman standing menacingly beside her. Subsequently, Hoffman compelled Elliott to drive to a secluded area in St. Tammany Parish, despite her pleas for mercy, prosecutors disclosed, citing Hoffman’s eventual admission of guilt. There, he assaulted Elliott and then instructed her to walk down a dirt trail in a desolate dumping ground, prosecutors added.
Elliott’s lifeless body was discovered along the East Pearl River on Thanksgiving Day in 1996. Prosecutors described her final moments, recounting how she was made to kneel at a makeshift dock, where she was ruthlessly shot in the head. Left unclothed on a cold November night, Ms. Elliott likely clung to life briefly before succumbing to her injuries.
Hoffman’s defense attorney, Cecelia Kappel, informed USA TODAY that he had confessed to the crime and expressed deep remorse.
In a recent development, Chief District Judge Shelly Dick temporarily halted Hoffman’s execution, citing concerns over potential suffering and the potential violation of the Eighth Amendment. The court highlighted reports from previous executions using nitrogen gas, revealing instances of distress and physical discomfort among the condemned. Despite arguments from the Alabama Attorney General supporting the method’s constitutionality, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Dick’s decision, prompting the matter to escalate to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court ultimately ruled 5-4 in favor of proceeding with Hoffman’s execution. Justice Neil Gorsuch emphasized Hoffman’s right to practice his Buddhist faith, criticizing lower courts for disregarding his religious liberty claim. While Hoffman’s execution moved forward as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, the court’s liberal members and Justice Gorsuch expressed dissent, urging further review of Hoffman’s religious concerns.
Andy Elliott, Molly Elliott’s husband, responded to the news of Hoffman’s impending execution as “bittersweet,” as reported by USA TODAY.
The relief of this long nightmare finally coming to an end is accompanied by renewed grief for Molly and sadness for Mr. Hoffman’s family. Their nightmare began when mine did, and they have also endured nearly 30 years of this agonizing process through no fault of their own,” he expressed. He expressed hope that Hoffman’s case could lead to “meaningful change” regarding the death penalty, emphasizing that a decades-long wait not only takes a toll on all involved but also diminishes the deterrent impact of the death penalty on crime. “While I am satisfied that justice has been served and we can begin to move forward with our lives,” he stated, “if the death penalty is to remain, the process must be expedited within a reasonable timeframe.”
In a previous statement to USA TODAY, he shared that his wife missed out on motherhood, a successful career, and a life they had planned together. “Molly’s life was filled with hope and promise for a beautiful future,” he reflected. “Her loss is a permanent scar that we will always carry, never to fully heal.”
‘More executions to come in U.S.’
This week, three additional executions by lethal injection are scheduled in Arizona, Oklahoma, and Florida. While at least 11 more executions are planned for the remainder of the year, this number is anticipated to rise as states issue more death warrants. As lethal injection drugs become increasingly challenging to obtain, states are exploring alternative execution methods.
Alabama became the first state to utilize the nitrogen gas method last year, a procedure also legal in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. Recently, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a bill authorizing the method in her state. Ohio and Nebraska have reintroduced similar legislation this year. Additionally, in South Carolina, Brad Keith Sigmon was executed by firing squad earlier this month, marking the first such execution in the U.S. since 2010 and only the fourth since 1977.
Contributors: Maureen Groppe and N’dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Nitrogen gas execution: Louisiana executes Jessie Hoffman
