Alabama Executes Demetrius Frazier Using Nitrogen Hypoxia

Demetrius Frazier, convicted of the 1991 rape and murder of Pauline Brown, was executed on February 6, 2025, in Alabama using nitrogen hypoxia, marking the first execution in the state this year and the fourth in the U.S. using this method. Frazier's execution followed a lengthy legal battle dating back over 30 years, rooted in a 2011 agreement between Michigan and Alabama governors that allowed Alabama to carry out the death penalty despite Michigan's abolition of it in 1847. In his final words, Frazier expressed remorse for Brown's family and criticized Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer for not intervening in his case, stating, 'If you cannot stand up for the constitution of Michigan, how are you going to stand up for the US Constitution?' Alabama officials emphasized the need for justice for the victims, while Frazier's family and death penalty opponents continued to seek a reversal of the execution. Whitmer acknowledged the complicated nature of the situation, reiterating Michigan's stance against the death penalty. Frazier's execution was described as controversial due to the method used, which substitutes breathable air with pure nitrogen.