Key George W. Bush Figure To Serve As Interim Oklahoma Corrections Head
Joe Allbaugh, a longtime Bush associate, will be the interim director of corrections for his home state. The previous director resigned in the midst of a grand jury investigation into how executions are handled in the state.
Florida Executes Serial Killer Who Murdered Three Women
The state executed Oscar Ray Bolin on Thursday for stabbing three young women to death in the 1980s. It was the first execution of 2016.
Court Backs Pennsylvania Governor's Suspension Of Death Penalty
Pennsylvania prosecutors challenged the governor's ability to suspend executions. But the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Monday that the reprieve power is "broad" and "constitutionally sound."
Former FDA Investigator Now Backing Four States' Execution Drug Import Efforts
Ben England, who once testified on behalf of death row inmates, is now the go-to consultant for states looking to get execution drugs the FDA says are illegal to import, records obtained by BuzzFeed News show.
Georgia Carries Out Final Execution In U.S. This Year
Georgia executed Brian Keith Terrell early Wednesday for murdering John Watson in 1992. It is the United States' final execution of the year.
Oklahoma Corrections Director Resigns Amid Execution Mistakes
In the midst of a grand jury investigation into what's been going wrong with Oklahoma's executions, Director Robert Patton announced on Friday he will resign.
State Supreme Court Says Arkansas Doesn't Have To Disclose Execution Drug Supplier Just Yet
Years ago, Arkansas agreed to disclose information on its execution drug suppliers. Then it changed the law to make it confidential. On Thursday, a judge ruled that the state can't do that. But on Friday, the State Supreme Court granted a temporary stay.
Execution Mistakes Followed Corrections Director From Arizona To Oklahoma
Each execution attempt under Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Robert Patton has been marred by mistakes. Many of those mistakes mirror ones made under his leadership in Arizona, BuzzFeed News has found.
Nebraska Paid Outside Lawyer To Register Overseas Execution Drug Supplier With FDA
Nebraska has hired Ben England, who also has been hired by other states, to help it import drugs for use in executions. In documents confirming his work for Nebraska, England also is listed as the U.S. agent for the drug salesman in India who has been the subject of ongoing BuzzFeed News reporting.
States Lawyer Up, Looking To Find A Way To Buy Execution Drugs From Overseas
Texas, Ohio, and Arizona corrections officials all have hired private lawyers to try to find a way around the FDA, current law, and a federal court order in order to import execution drugs from overseas.
Three States Bought Illegal Execution Drugs From Supplier In India
Chris Harris, the execution drug salesman who has been the focus of ongoing reporting by BuzzFeed News, sold drugs to Texas, Arizona, and Nebraska.
Arizona, Texas Purchased Execution Drugs Illegally Overseas, But FDA Halts The Import
Both Arizona and Texas attempted to illegally import sodium thiopental in July, but the shipments are still being held at the airports. Nebraska also attempted to import the same drug illegally this summer, as previously reported.
FYI, There's A Man In Kolkata Who Supplies America With Drugs To Execute Criminals
Chris Harris, a man with no pharmaceutical background, is earning thousands of dollars supplying illegal drugs to the U.S. to execute criminals.
This Is The Man In India Who Is Selling States Illegally Imported Execution Drugs
When states ran out of execution drugs, they started paying tens of thousands of dollars to Chris Harris, a salesman in India with no pharmaceutical background.
Ohio Insists It Can Import Execution Drug Legally, After FDA Said It Couldn't
The FDA warned Ohio in June that importing the execution drug, sodium thiopental, would be illegal. Friday, Ohio pushed back, saying there should be a legal way to do it.
Oklahoma Used Wrong Execution Drug In January, Autopsy Report Shows
The state called off an execution last week after discovering it had obtained the wrong drug. But according to an autopsy report the state already used the incorrect drug in a previous execution.
Montana Judge Prohibits State From Using Execution Drug
A Montana judge says the state's attempt to use pentobarbital as a lethal injection drug is prohibited by the state law, written with another drug in mind, that requires it to use an "ultra-fast acting barbiturate."
Missouri Governor Commutes Death Sentence Of Inmate Facing Execution
Kimber Edwards was set to be executed on Oct. 6 for hiring a hit man to kill his ex-wife, until Gov. Jay Nixon commuted his sentence to life without parole. The killer now says he framed Edwards to avoid the death penalty.
Oklahoma Court Puts Hold On Executions After State Didn’t Follow Own Procedures
After finding out late that it had the wrong drugs, Oklahoma's executions will be postponed indefinitely. But if the state had followed its own protocol, the problem would have been noticed much earlier.
Oklahoma Governor Stops Richard Glossip's Execution Over Drug Concerns
Citing questions raised about a lethal injection drug, Gov. Mary Fallin granted a 37-day stay of execution for Glossip who was set to be executed today. Glossip says he is innocent and has thousands of supporters, including Susan Sarandon and Richard Branson.