Louisiana Executes Jessie Hoffman, First in 15 Years Using Nitrogen Gas

On March 18, 2025, Louisiana executed Jessie Hoffman, marking the state's first execution in 15 years and its inaugural use of nitrogen gas as a method of capital punishment. Hoffman, convicted of murdering 28-year-old Mary 'Molly' Elliott in 1996, was pronounced dead after a 19-minute process described by officials as 'flawless,' despite reports of convulsions during the execution. The U.S. Supreme Court denied Hoffman's last-minute appeal, which argued that the method violated his Buddhist beliefs by disrupting his meditative breathing. This execution makes Louisiana the second state to use nitrogen gas for capital punishment, following Alabama. Officials stated that additional executions could follow, as there are over 50 inmates currently on death row in Louisiana. Governor Jeff Landry emphasized the state's commitment to capital punishment for heinous crimes, reinforcing a zero-tolerance approach to violence.