Alabama Executes Carey Dale Grayson by Nitrogen Hypoxia

Carey Dale Grayson, 50, was executed in Alabama on November 21, 2024, using nitrogen hypoxia, becoming the third inmate in the U.S. to die by this controversial method. Convicted of the 1994 murder of hitchhiker Vickie Deblieux, Grayson was pronounced dead after a failed last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Deblieux was brutally attacked and mutilated by Grayson and three teenage accomplices, who were later spared the death penalty due to their ages at the time of the crime. Critics of nitrogen hypoxia have raised concerns about its humane application, citing distressing reports from previous executions. Grayson's execution marks Alabama's sixth execution of the year and has reignited debates over the method's constitutionality and ethics. This execution highlights ongoing tensions regarding the use of capital punishment in the U.S., particularly concerning the rights of those involved.