Witnesses have shared disturbing details of Jessie Hoffman Jr.'s execution, which took place at the Louisiana State Penitentiary on Tuesday, March 18.
Hoffman, who was convicted of the 1996 murder of Mary "Molly" Elliot, was put to death using nitrogen hypoxia, a method that has been banned for euthanizing cats and dogs in the state.
This was Louisiana’s first time using the gas, which has been adopted in some states due to the difficulty of obtaining lethal injection drugs.
Per The Sun Hoffman’s execution lasted 19 minutes, with witnesses describing involuntary movements and twitching throughout the process, sparking renewed debate over whether nitrogen gas is a humane method of capital punishment.
The Crime and Conviction
Hoffman abducted 28-year-old Mary Elliot from a parking garage in New Orleans, forcing her to withdraw money from an ATM before driving her to a remote location in St. Tammany Parish, where he r*ped and shot her.
He was convicted of first-degree murder in 1998 and sentenced to death. After decades of legal proceedings and appeals, the execution was carried out this week.
Execution Using Nitrogen Hypoxia
Hoffman became the fifth person in the U.S. to be executed using nitrogen gas, following four previous cases in Alabama. The method involves replacing oxygen with nitrogen, leading to suffocation.
During the execution, Hoffman was strapped to a table and covered with a thick blanket. Witnesses reported that once the gas was activated, his body twitched, and his head jerked up and down. He continued to show involuntary movements for several minutes before being pronounced dead at 6:50PM.
Prison Warden Darrel Vannoy reopened the curtains to confirm his death, marking the completion of Louisiana’s first nitrogen hypoxia execution.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
Hoffman’s attorneys have strongly criticized the execution method, calling it a cruel and unusual punishment.
"Jessie no longer bore any resemblance to the 18-year-old who killed Molly Elliott," said Cecelia Kappel, one of his legal representatives.
"The State was able to execute him by pushing out a new protocol and setting execution dates to prevent careful judicial review and shrouding the process in secrecy."
Opponents of the method have argued that nitrogen hypoxia is untested and potentially torturous, pointing to concerns that Hoffman showed visible signs of distress before losing consciousness.
Reaction from Victim’s Family
Mary Elliot’s husband, Andy Elliott, acknowledged the emotional weight of the execution after nearly 30 years of legal battles.
"There is relief that this long nightmare is finally over but also renewed grief for Molly and sadness for Mr. Hoffman’s family, whose nightmare began when mine did and who’ve also had to go through nearly 30 years of this gut-wrenching process through no fault of their own," he said.
Hoffman's Spiritual Beliefs in His Final Moments
Hoffman reportedly became a practicing Buddhist in 2002 and relied on meditative breathing techniques to cope with his time in prison. His legal team said that his breathing practices were of deep spiritual significance in his final moments.
"The record evidence unrebutted by the State establishes that, in Buddhist tradition, meditative breathing at the time of death carries profound spiritual significance, founded in the core belief that meditation and unfettered breath at the time of transition from life to death determines the quality of rebirth," Kappel said.
A Controversial Execution Method
Louisiana’s use of nitrogen gas for executions comes despite state laws banning its use for euthanizing animals. Critics argue that if a method is considered inhumane for pets, it should not be used on people.
With this execution now complete, the debate over nitrogen hypoxia’s ethics, effectiveness, and potential suffering is likely to continue.