Louisiana Prepares First Execution Using Nitrogen Gas in State History

Jessie Hoffman's execution is set for Tuesday evening, marking Louisiana's first use of nitrogen hypoxia despite ongoing legal, ethical, and constitutional challenges.

Jessie Hoffman, convicted of the 1996 abduction, rape, and murder of Mary 'Molly' Elliott, is scheduled to be executed Tuesday evening using nitrogen gas at Louisiana State Penitentiary.
This execution will be Louisiana's first in 15 years and the first time the state employs nitrogen hypoxia, a method previously used only in Alabama.
Critics argue the method violates constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment, citing distress observed in prior executions, and note its ban for euthanizing pets in Louisiana.
Hoffman's legal team has filed multiple appeals, including to the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming the method infringes on his religious freedoms as a practicing Buddhist.
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a prior injunction, allowing the execution to proceed, with Louisiana officials asserting the method is humane and overdue for justice.