‘Botched’ lethal injection earns Tennessee death row inmate reprieve

Published



Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) delayed the execution of Tony Carruthers by one year after the inmate experienced a “botched” execution on Thursday.

Executioners failed to find a vein to insert the mandatory backup IV line per Tennessee‘s lethal injection protocol. Carruthers had been convicted of a triple murder in Memphis in 1994, though advocates had pushed for clemency in the weeks leading up to his execution date.

Full midterm coverage.Deeper analysis.

Get unlimited access to Washington Examiner's reporting, expert analysis, and coverage of the midterm elections.

Get Unlimited Access

Cancel anytime.