20 Horrifying Botched Executions of Black Death Row Inmates

Rector was convicted in the murder of an Arkansas police officer after three days on the run from killing another man in 1981. After shooting the officer, he tried to commit suicide with a self-inflicted gunshot wound but in a bizarre occurrence, gave himself a lobotomy instead., per A&E True Crime. His execution in 1992 took 50 minutes as prison officials tried to locate a suitable vein. Witnesses over heard his groans of pain from the other side of the curtain. His execution was debated because of his mental deficiency, which would have otherwise qualified him to be exempt from execution.

White was convicted in the killing of a furniture store owner in Harris County, Tx. during a robbery in 1976. The owner’s husband shot and injured White, leading his escape to be cut short by the police, per The New York Times. His execution was scheduled for 1996. Though, due to his heavy heroin use, prison officials struggled to locate a suitable vein to administer the lethal injection. At some point, White attempted to help them find one.

Townes was convicted in the execution-style killing of a mother of two during a robbery back in 1985. By 1996, he was put to death. However, his execution was delayed for nearly a half an hour due to the inability to locate a vein to administer the lethal cocktail. Nurses eventually resorted to puncturing the top of his foot, per the Death Penalty Information Center. Townes last words were, “I’m innocent.”

Obsurne was convicted in the 1990 killing of a woman and man, one of whom he owed money to, per the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office. His execution was set for June 2008. Prison officials experienced a 55-minute delay to the procedure waiting if the Supreme Court would grant his emergency appeal. After it was rejected, prison officials struggled an additional 30 minutes to find a vein for the injection. After another 15 minutes, he was pronounced dead.

Terrell was convicted of the murder of a 70-year-old man in Covington, Ga. back in 1992. He was tried three times for the killing - the first, ending in a hung jury, the second resulting in a conviction that was overturned later and the third sealing his fate for death row. Up to the very day of his execution in 2015, he maintained his innocence, per the Equal Justice Initiative. It took about an hour for the prison officials to get an IV hooked up to him. Eventually, his hand was pierced with the needle. He lifted his head throughout the procedure, suggesting he was awake for most of it.

Stephens was sentenced to death in 1975 after killing a man who interrupted a burglary. By 1984, he was scheduled to be executed by electric chair. However, according to AL.com, the first shock failed to kill him. He took 23 breaths, struggling for every interval, for a total of six minutes. Officials also waited for his body to cool to examine him. Following that, a second shock was administered. He was then pronounced dead.

Medina, a Cuban refugee, was convicted in the murder of a 52-year-old woman in Orlando, Fl. He was sentenced to death by electrocution. On March 25, 1997, two dozen witnesses saw foot-high flames shoot from the headpiece, resulting in both the execution chamber and viewing area to be filled with smoke, per AL.com. Before the standard two-minute cycle of electric bolts was over, officials had to manually turn the power off. Medina was still breathing for a moment until the flames went out.

Landry was sentenced to death in the 1982 killing of a restaurant owner in Bellfort, Tx during an armed robbery. Six years later, Landry was scheduled for lethal injection. Two minutes after the drugs were administered, the syringe slipped out of Landry’s arm and sprayed the lethal cocktail across the room, according to AL.com. It took fifteen minutes to reinsert the needle again. Landry’s execution lasted 40 minutes.

Smith was convicted in the murder of an Indiana police officer though the fatal shot was fired by his friend, per the Death Penalty Information Center. On July 18, 1996, Smith was scheduled to die by lethal injection. Because of “unusually small veins,” officials took sixteen minutes to locate a place to puncture Smith. Finally, the catheter was placed inside Smith’s foot. The entire procedure took 49 minutes. Another 20 minutes later, Smith was pronounced dead.

Demps was convicted for murdering a fellow inmate in Florida state Prison in 1976. Demps was scheduled for execution by lethal injection. However, it took 33 minutes for officials to locate a proper vein to administer the lethal cocktail, per AL.com. In his final statement, Demps took the moment to acknowledge the pain he endured during the process.

“They butchered me back there. I was in a lot of pain. They cut me in the groin; they cut me in the leg. I was bleeding profusely. This is not an execution, it is murder,” said Demps in his last words.

Clark was convicted of murder after fatally shooting a gas station employee in Toledo, Ohio during a stick up in 1984. Clark was scheduled to be executed on May 2, 2006 by lethal injection. Only after 22 minutes were officials able to locate a vein to puncture. However, just a few minutes later, Clark’s vein collapsed and his arm began to swell. He tried to voice to the technicians that the procedure had failed. Officials then worked for another 30 minutes behind closed curtains to complete the procedure. According to AL.com, media witnesses recalled hearing Clark moan in agony until he fell silent and was pronounced dead.

Broom was convicted on kidnapping, rape and murder charges in Cuyahoga County back in 1985. He was scheduled for execution in 2009. However, officials struggled to locate a vein for the lethal injection resulting in 18 punctures over his arms and legs as well as the striking of a bone, per the Death Penalty Information Center. After prison officials failed to locate the IV line, they aborted the execution to reschedule it for another time. However, in 2020, Broom died of COVID-19 complications while on death row.

Lockett was found guilty in the 1999 kidnapping and murder of a 19-year-old girl in Oklahoma. In 2014, he was scheduled for execution. Over 51 minutes, the prison officials tried to find a vein to insert IV lines, resulting in 16 punctures all around Lockett’s body, per AL.com. Finally, the officials resorted to his groin, covering his private area with a sheet. However, when the lethal cocktail was administered, his vein “exploded” causing a bloody scene. The drugs then swole under his skin to the size of a golfball. After 43 minutes, Lockett died of a heart attack.

James was convicted of the murder of a 26-year-old Alabama woman in 1994. His execution was scheduled for July 2022.

His three-hour execution is believed to be the longest in U.S. history. During that time, officials attempted to insert IV lines to administer the lethal injection, per The Guardian. Thirty minutes after making a successful injection, James was pronounced dead.

A private autopsy found unexplained cuts, bruising and deep needle puncture wounds around his hands, wrists, elbows and feet. Witnesses suspected he may have been secretly sedated prior to the injection.

The so-called serial killer was convicted in the murders of a young couple in 1998. The following year, after spending just a few weeks in prison, he escaped and killed two more people, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Williams went to death row in 2000 and was not scheduled for execution by lethal injection until 2017. On that fatal day, a lawyer recalled the disturbing scene watching Williams lurching and convulsing for minutes after the paralyzing sedative was administered, per NBC News. His movement suggested he was not under full anesthesia but felt the entire execution process.

The lethal cocktail was later discovered to expire at the end of the month, raising concerns on the effectiveness of the drug.

Georgia’s oldest death row inmate, 72-year-old Brandon Jones, was scheduled to die by lethal injection after the killing of a convenience store employee in 1979. On the day of his execution in 2016, prison officials spent 45 minutes trying to find a vein to administer the IV line. They finally resorted to his groin area to make a puncture. However, after six minutes of the drugs being administered, Jones opened his eyes - indicating he was not rendered paralyzed to the painful sensation of the drugs, per The Florida Times-Union.

Bourgeois was convicted in the torture and death of his 2-year-old daughter back in 2004, per the Justice Department. In 2020, he was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection. Reprieve’s report says he grimaced in pain and his stomach quivered uncontrollably for five minutes as the drugs flowed through his body, indicating he was awake and aware for the majority of the pain. He died 20 minutes after the administering of the lethal cocktail.

Dunkins was convicted in the rape and murder of a mother of four back in 1980. Even after being declared mentally disabled, his execution was scheduled nine years later, per UPI Archives. He was sentenced to death by electrocution. However, a faulty hookup of the electrodes caused a failure in the first jolt of electricity. After the first jolt, Dunkins was reported to be unconscious but had a strong heartbeat. He was then shocked a second time. His execution took 26 minutes.

Evans was convicted in the murder of an Alexandria, Virginia sheriff’s deputy while attempting to flee custody in 1981, per The Virginia Pilot. He was scheduled to be electrocuted in 1990. However, when the first jolt shocked him, blood pooled from underneath the leather mask covering Evans head, soaking his face, neck and chest. Officials claimed it was just a nosebleed. However, Evans was still alive, groaning in pain for minutes until the second jolt was administered.

Peterson was sentenced to death in the 1982 murder of a Hampton, Virginia grocery store employee during an armed robbery, per the Daily Press. By 1991, he was scheduled to be electrocuted. Peterson survived the first shock. After the prison physician found he was still alive, not even ten minutes later, an additional shock was administered, per AL.com.