Kenneth Smith’s haunting final words before nitrogen gas execution | US News

The first US prisoner to be killed by nitrogen gas left his executioners with haunting final words before he suffered a ‘horrific’ death.

Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, smiled and made a heart shape with his hands towards his family as he was strapped to a gurney at the the William C. Holman prison in Atmore, Alabama.

A gas mask filled with 100% nitrogen was placed over his face as the killer-for-hire nodded towards his wife Deanna and signed ‘I love you’.

He then declared: ‘Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards. I’m leaving with love, peace and light.’

Deanna was seen crying and screaming in the witness box as Smith convulsed in agony before falling unconscious.

Smith shook, writhed and thrashed up and down for two whole minutes after the nitrogen gas filled up his mask.

Heavy breathing and slight gasping then followed for up to seven minutes, meaning Smith was in excruciating pain for nearly 10 minutes before his breaths slowly stopped at 8.08pm.

This was despite Alabama state officials insisting the execution would be swift and painless

He was pronounced dead at 8.25pm.

Smith was sentenced to death in 1996 for a murder-for-hire killing of a preacher’s wife in 1988, which he was paid just $1000 to commit. 

Jeff Hood, who acted as Smith’s spiritual guide throughout the ordeal, said the execution was the worst thing he’d ever witnessed.

‘When they turned the nitrogen on, he began to convulse, he popped up on the gurney over and over again, he shook the whole gurney,’ he said. 

After praying for the murderer and telling him that he ‘loved him and he wasn’t alone’, Hood broke down as he recalled the ‘horror show’ of Smith’s final moments. 

‘I could see the corrections officers, I think they were very surprised that this didn’t go smoothly – one of the state officials in the room was so nervous she was tap dancing,’ he continued. 

‘(Smith) kept breathing for what could possibly be up to nine minutes, ten minutes, unbelievable evil was unleashed tonight in Alabama.’

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