Louisiana’s Historic Execution Using Nitrogen Gas for Jessie Hoffman Jr.

On March 18, 2025, Louisiana executed Jessie Hoffman Jr. using nitrogen gas, marking the state’s first use of this method. Convicted for the 1996 murder of Mary “Molly” Elliott, Hoffman declined a final statement or meal. Despite legal appeals contesting the execution method, it proceeded without incident and was described by officials as a “flawless” execution.

Louisiana executed Jessie Hoffman Jr. using nitrogen gas on the evening of March 18, 2025. This marked the state’s first execution utilizing this method after a 15-year hiatus in executions. Hoffman, 46, was put to death for the 1996 murder of Mary “Molly” Elliott, a 28-year-old advertising executive. He did not provide a final statement or request a last meal prior to his execution.

Hoffman’s execution proceeded without significant complications, taking place at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Witnesses reported that nitrogen gas began flowing at 6:21 p.m., and Hoffman exhibited slight movements during the process, which were characterized by officials as involuntary. The execution was deemed “flawless” by authorities, despite some witnesses observing shaking during the procedure.

Having spent most of his adult life incarcerated, Hoffman had appealed his execution, arguing that the nitrogen gas method constituted cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. His legal team also contended that the method encroached upon his Buddhist beliefs concerning breathing practices at the time of death. However, both the Supreme Court and a local judge refused to halt the execution.

Executed via nitrogen hypoxia, Hoffman was reportedly strapped to a gurney, with a full-face respirator mask fitted on him, as pure nitrogen gas deprived him of oxygen. He displayed limited movements as he succumbed to the gas, which was intended to ensure a painless death. Witnesses noted they could hear Buddhist chanting in the chamber prior to the execution, reinforcing Hoffman’s spiritual inclinations.

Nitrogen gas has previously been used in executions in Alabama, and Louisiana recently embraced this method, along with electrocution, to address challenges in securing lethal injection drugs. Following Hoffman’s death, the Attorney General expressed that the execution had long been overdue, and anticipated additional executions to follow in Louisiana in the current year, signaling a potential shift in the state’s approach to capital punishment.

In summary, Louisiana executed Jessie Hoffman Jr. using nitrogen gas, a novel method for the state following a prolonged interval in executions. His conviction for the 1996 murder of Mary “Molly” Elliott culminated in a legally contentious and emotionally charged situation. Despite efforts to halt the execution based on religious and constitutional arguments, legal rulings allowed it to proceed. This execution represents a significant moment in the ongoing discussion surrounding capital punishment in the United States and highlights the complexities of implementing new execution methods.

Original Source: apnews.com