Inside look at an Arizona execution

Summary

Fox 10 News anchor Troy Hayden recounts his experience witnessing a prolonged and unusual execution, the third of his career. The execution, marked by a new drug protocol, lasted two hours, differing from the typical ten-minute process. Hayden describes the intense atmosphere, the family's reaction, and the broader implications for the death penalty debate, highlighting the challenges states face in finding effective and humane lethal injection drugs.

Takeaways

• 👤 The interview is with Troy Hayden, a Fox 10 News anchor, who has witnessed three executions, the latest being unique due to a change in the drug protocol used for lethal injection.
• 🔍 Troy was chosen to witness the execution through a media lottery system, where interested media personnel are selected to observe and report on the execution.
• 💉 The execution process has evolved from a three-drug protocol to a one-drug protocol, with the latest execution raising questions about the effectiveness and issues with the new drug used.
• ⏳ The execution lasted approximately two hours, significantly longer than the previous ones Troy witnessed, which lasted around ten minutes at most.
• 🌅 Troy described his morning routine and mental preparation before heading to the execution, focusing on how to communicate the experience to viewers effectively.
• 🏛️ The execution took place at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence, a maximum-security facility with a history dating back to the turn of the century.
• 🔐 Security measures were stringent, with witnesses subjected to a search and only allowed to bring minimal personal items, such as a wallet, keys, and a watch.
• 📝 Witnesses were provided with a small pad and pencil to take notes, which were collected at the end of the execution, emphasizing the importance of memory in reporting.
• 👁️ The execution room was small and intimate, with witnesses sitting close to one another and able to see the condemned through a window with a curtain.
• 🕊️ The family of the victim was present during the execution, showing a strong and unyielding gaze towards the condemned, reflecting their long-awaited closure.
• ⚖️ The debate surrounding the death penalty and the drug protocol used in executions is ongoing, with states grappling with the ethical and practical implications of capital punishment.

Q & A

How did Troy Hayden get selected to witness the execution?

Troy Hayden was chosen through a lottery system for the media. He expressed interest in witnessing the execution due to the change in drug protocol, which he found intriguing.

What was unique about the execution Troy witnessed compared to the previous two?

Unlike the previous two executions that lasted around ten minutes, this one lasted approximately two hours, which was attributed to a change in the drug protocol from a three-drug to a one-drug protocol.

How did Troy prepare himself mentally for the execution?

Troy prepared by considering the workload for the day and focusing on how he would communicate the experience to viewers. He also thought about the crime committed by the inmate and the impact on the victim's family.

What was the atmosphere like at the maximum-security prison before the execution?

The atmosphere was intense and silent, with a sense of anticipation. Troy described it as a feeling of hollowness and shattered looks on the faces of the victim's family members present.

What security measures were in place for Troy and the other witnesses before entering the death chamber?

Witnesses had to go through a strict security check, where they could only bring their wallets, car keys, and watches. All other items had to be left behind. They were also given a small pad and pencil for note-taking, which was collected afterward.

How did the inmate, Joseph Wood, react during the execution?

Joseph Wood appeared to be looking around and making eye contact with some of the witnesses, giving what was described as an 'evil eye.' He did not appear scared, unlike the previous inmates Troy had witnessed being executed.

Why did the execution take two hours instead of the usual ten minutes?

The extended duration was due to issues with the new drug protocol. The inmate was observed gulping for air and not dying as quickly as expected, leading to a prolonged execution.

What was the family's reaction to the prolonged execution?

The family maintained their gaze on the inmate throughout the execution, showing no signs of averting their eyes. They expressed frustration that the focus was on the drug protocol rather than on the crime and its impact on them.

What was the significance of the IVs being shown on the monitors?

The IVs being shown on monitors was a new development, possibly to provide a clearer view of the process and to ensure that the execution was recorded in case anything went wrong.

How did the execution affect Troy's perspective on the death penalty and its protocols?

Troy found the prolonged execution to be ugly and not pretty, but he did not express a strong emotional reaction to the execution itself. The experience reinforced the need for effective and non-painful execution methods as per the law.

What was the aftermath of the execution for the media and the victim's family?

After the execution, the media, including Troy, gathered to report on the event, focusing on the inmate's last words and the unusual circumstances of the execution. The victim's family expressed their frustration with the lengthy process and the focus on the drug protocol.

Outlines

00:00

📺 Witnessing an Execution: Media Lottery and Drug Protocol Changes

Troy Hayden, a Fox 10 News anchor, recounts his experience of witnessing an execution for the third time, emphasizing its uniqueness due to a change in the drug protocol. The selection process for media witnesses is likened to a lottery, with interested parties volunteering. The switch from a three-drug to a one-drug protocol and subsequent issues with the new drug made this execution particularly noteworthy. The execution lasted approximately two hours, contrasting with the ten-minute duration of previous ones. Hayden's thoughts leading up to the event were focused on his role as a communicator of the experience to the viewers, considering the crime committed by the inmate and the lengthy time span since it occurred.

05:01

🏛️ The Journey to the Death Chamber: Security and Preparation

The script describes the process of entering the maximum-security prison in Florence, including multiple security checkpoints and a strict protocol for what can be brought inside. The media witnesses were briefed by the Department of Corrections director, Charles Ryan, before being escorted to a waiting area within the prison. The anticipation of the execution is palpable, with the presence of the inmate's family adding emotional weight to the event. The atmosphere is tense as the group awaits the finalization of legal appeals, with the gravity of the situation sinking in for all involved.

10:02

🔍 Inside the Death House: Execution Procedure and Witnessing the Process

The narrative takes us inside the death house, providing a detailed account of the execution procedure. The use of television monitors to display the inmate's preparation, including the insertion of IVs, is a new development. The identity of the executioners is kept secret by law, with personnel wearing masks and eye protection. The inmate's attire, an orange jumpsuit with Velcro sleeves for easy access to his arms, is highlighted as unusual. The switch to a new drug protocol and the reasons behind it, including manufacturer objections and public pressure, are discussed, along with the desire for a humane and non-painful execution method.

15:02

🕒 The Prolonged Execution: Emotional Toll and Unprecedented Duration

This paragraph delves into the emotional impact of the prolonged execution, which lasted over two hours. The inmate's lack of fear and his direct gaze into the eyes of the witnesses, including Hayden, is described as eerie and unsettling. The family of the victim maintains a steadfast focus on the execution, never averting their eyes, reflecting their intense emotional investment in the process. The unusual length of the execution and the inmate's struggle for breath raise concerns about the effectiveness of the new drug protocol, leading to a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere among the witnesses.

20:03

🚨 The Execution's Aftermath: Legal Intervention and Family Reactions

The script describes the chaotic aftermath of the prolonged execution, including the inmate's attorneys attempting to intervene legally to stop the execution and resuscitate the inmate, which was unsuccessful. The emotional reactions of the victim's family are highlighted, with a focus on their frustration that the execution's lengthy process drew attention away from their loss. The execution's conclusion is marked by the Department of Corrections spokesperson's announcement of the inmate's death, with no cheers or tears from the witnesses, reflecting the somber and serious nature of the event.

25:04

🔚 Reflecting on the Execution: Personal Perspectives and Broader Implications

In the final paragraph, Hayden reflects on the personal and societal implications of the execution. He contemplates the inmate's last moments and the irreversible nature of his actions, as well as the impact of the execution on the victim's family. The conversation about the drug protocol and its effectiveness is acknowledged as a separate but intertwined issue. Hayden's personal reasons for attending multiple executions are shared, emphasizing the value of firsthand experience in reporting. The interview concludes with a discussion about the broader debate on execution methods and the need for a humane and effective protocol.

Keywords

💡Execution

Execution refers to the act of carrying out a sentence of death, typically as a form of capital punishment. In the video's context, it is the central event being discussed, with the execution of Joseph Wood being the focal point. The script describes the process and the emotional impact of witnessing an execution, emphasizing its complexity and the duration of the procedure.

💡Lethal Injection

Lethal injection is a method of execution involving the use of intravenous injections of drugs that induce rapid unconsciousness, paralysis, and cardiac arrest. The script discusses the challenges and controversies surrounding the use of lethal injection, particularly the change in drug protocols that have led to prolonged execution times and raised questions about the method's effectiveness and humanity.

💡Drug Protocol

A drug protocol in the context of capital punishment refers to the specific sequence and combination of drugs used in a lethal injection. The script highlights the transition from a three-drug protocol to a one-drug protocol and the issues that have arisen due to pharmaceutical companies refusing to have their products used for executions, leading to experimentation with new drug combinations.

💡Media Witness

A media witness is a journalist or news representative who is present at significant events, such as executions, to provide firsthand accounts to the public. The script details the experience of Troy Hayden, a news anchor who has witnessed three executions, emphasizing the role of media witnesses in informing the public about the realities of capital punishment.

💡Death Row

Death row is the section of a prison where inmates awaiting execution are held. The script mentions that the executed individual, Joseph Wood, was on death row for a crime committed 25 years prior, illustrating the long period some inmates spend awaiting their execution.

💡Capital Punishment

Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the legal process whereby a person is sentenced to death for a heinous crime. The script discusses the debate around capital punishment, particularly the methods used and the emotional impact on the victims' families and society as a whole.

💡Victims' Family

The victims' family refers to the relatives of the individuals who were killed by the person being executed. The script describes the presence and reaction of the victims' family during the execution, highlighting their emotional journey and the closure they seek from the event.

💡Legal Wrangling

Legal wrangling refers to the disputes and legal challenges that occur, often at the last minute, in cases involving capital punishment. The script mentions delays due to legal wrangling, emphasizing the complex and often unpredictable nature of the legal process surrounding executions.

💡Humane Killing

A humane killing is one that is intended to be relatively quick and painless. The script discusses the requirement for executions to be humane, as per the law, and the controversy surrounding whether the prolonged use of lethal injection meets this standard.

💡Death House

A death house is the facility or room within a prison where executions are carried out. The script provides a detailed description of the death house, including the presence of a gas chamber and the layout of the room where witnesses observe the execution.

💡IV (Intravenous)

Intravenous, or IV, refers to the method of administering drugs through a vein, which is how lethal injection is typically carried out. The script describes the process of inserting IVs into the condemned person's arms and the subsequent injection of drugs, which is a critical part of the execution procedure.

Highlights

Troy Hayden describes his experience as a witness to an execution, noting it as his third time but uniquely different due to changes in the drug protocol.

Hayden explains the selection process for media witnesses involves a lottery system, emphasizing his interest in witnessing due to the new drug protocol.

The execution lasted approximately two hours, significantly longer than the ten minutes of previous executions he had witnessed.

Hayden shares his thoughts and preparations on the morning of the execution, highlighting the mental load of communicating the experience to viewers.

He discusses the emotional impact of the crime committed by the executed individual, including its effects on the victim's family, 25 years after the incident.

Hayden describes the security measures and the process of entering the maximum-security prison where the execution took place.

The strict rules for witnesses are outlined, including a ban on electronic devices and the provision of a small pad and pencil for note-taking.

Hayden recounts the moment the family of the victim entered and the palpable sense of loss they carried with them.

He details the walk through the prison to the death house, emphasizing the eerie silence and the solemn atmosphere.

Hayden explains the layout of the death house and the close proximity of witnesses to the execution process.

The introduction of TV monitors to show the IV insertion process is noted as a new development in the execution protocol.

Hayden discusses the drug protocol changes from a three-drug to a single-drug protocol and the controversies surrounding the source and use of these drugs.

The emotional response of the executed individual, Joseph Wood, is described, including his lack of fear and direct eye contact with witnesses.

The family's reaction to the execution is shared, with a focus on their desire for justice and the frustration with the prolonged process.

Hayden reflects on the broader implications of the execution, touching on the debate over lethal injection protocols and the challenges faced by states.

He concludes with personal insights on why he chose to witness multiple executions and the value of firsthand experience in reporting.

Transcripts

well welcome to the Fox 10 YouTube

channel we're talking to Troy Hayden Fox

10 News anchor about of what was a

pretty interesting experience yesterday

your third time witnessing an execution

right but this was and probably the last

but this one was really unique for many

reasons do you want to talk about one

why you've witnessed three and how you

got chosen to see this one basically

it's a lottery that they've put out for

the media and they'll ask who is

interested in coming out and seeing this

and that's how you get chosen so that's

basically how I was chosen I got the I

knew this was coming up I knew this was

going to be an interesting execution

because they were changing the drug

protocol mm-hm and so they're going from

a three-drug protocol they went to a one

drug and now they're going to a - and

I'm either it has some issues with it so

I thought it might be interesting to two

witnesses and it sure was I mean this

one lasted about two hours the two

previous executions you witnessed lasted

what ten minutes really the tops yeah

okay so we're gonna get into what's

going through your mind when this is

going on four hour and 40 minutes two

hours but I first want to talk about

yesterday morning you wake up and at the

moment you're thinking the executions on

you're driving down to Florence kind of

what's going through your mind it was

very early morning because I worked

until you know with you I was on until

10:30 at night and then I get to bed

about midnight and so I had to get up

around I think it's about 6:00 I got up

took a shower drove down so I'm a little

fuzzy just trying to get my wits about

me as I Drive down I was preparing

myself getting ready thinking about what

my workload is going to be for the day

whenever I go into any story it's not so

much you know living that whole

experience is how I'm gonna take that

experience and communicate it to the

viewers so that's what I was thinking

about the drive day and I know in the

days preceding this you were talking

about the crime that happened I'm sure

that you were weighing that in your head

a little bit that and I know that came

up for you throughout the week you're

thinking about what this guy did why

he's sitting on death row right you know

and and you know as we continue talking

here this is not this is jowood behind

us and the guy who was executed

yesterday and this isn't about Joe wood

so much to me this me this is more about

the process of what all of us when you

did yesterday what I did what everybody

in Arizona

because we're all involved in this and

how that process you know played out

yesterday so Joe would not a good guy

terrible crime Torah family apart 25

years ago that's part of the process as

well if people have a problem with cycle

why does it take 25 years for us to

finally get to the point where he faces

the ultimate punishment so I was into

thinking about Joe would so much and and

I was thinking about this family and how

they were going to react and how they're

going to see it but you know you're

talking about being removed a quarter

century from this actually happening but

you know there's one thing that I will

say is whenever you see maybe it's just

a feeling I get but as soon as that

family walked in the door I knew exactly

who they were because people who have

lost somebody to a violent crime get

that kind of a hollow I was a shattered

look you know and I could see it on

their faces 25 years later it's still

there's something missing and father and

a daughter you know so that was there

was there another daughter and who was

the sister that people who were killed

was so you're driving up to a

maximum-security prison yesterday yet

they I'm sure they let you on through

and then kind of walk us through driving

in to getting to basically the death

chamber which not many people have seen

no no it's not a nice place you know

they lock Florence down especially run

this is did happen down the Florence

which is about an hour southeast of the

valley and it's the old prison I don't

know when exactly it was built I think

right around the turn of the century so

looks like an old prison this big

concrete walls and there's a checkpoint

at the main intersection outside then

there's another checkpoint right at the

main entrance when you go inside and at

that point I had to identify myself I

drove into where the other media was

assembled we met up with the

communications director for Department

of Corrections and he brought us inside

a building and basically that's just

like in a classroom that's not actually

inside the prison that's just just

outside the gates and before we were

even allowed to get on the van to go

into that area

we got searched we had to have the only

thing that we could have with us we

could bring our wallet we could bring

our key for our car and and your watch

but everything else had to go you just

leave it there I left in my car in the

parking lot so before you even get on

the van to go there's they wand you and

they say okay that's your watch that's

okay and they

okay that's your key that's okay you can

have that but you can't have a pen you

can't bring a phone whoa so it's all

memory you know obviously there's no

live tweets you can't but they give you

a little tiny pad and a pencil and then

they collected that at the end of the

execution which I thought was odd but

they give you a little pad and a pen so

that's what you can bring in take notes

okay so you get back there yeah so

you're in that first room and the

Department of Corrections director

charles ryan came in and spoke to us and

said okay here's where we are

everything's going the way it should be

going at 10:00 a.m. now we got a little

bit of delay yesterday but this is how

he first came in he said 10:00 a.m.

we're gonna move forward we're gonna

move you in and that's it he's kind of

walks out and he's gone yeah so we then

move inside the prison itself and we

walked about I don't know about 50 yards

to the prison entrance and at that point

is when the big iron gates open up that

you see like in the movie gates and only

one opens at a time it's a long hallway

there's gates on both sides so one opens

you walk in and that closes then the

other one will open up and so we went in

front of another guard and we were

escorted by our liaison inside the

prison to another like classroom type

area I think it's where the corrections

officers either you know have some sort

of classroom activity or something but

it's inside the prison gate and so we

sat there and waited until we were taken

back to the death house that is astrum

and it was ours that you waited there I

mean I just can't imagine you're sitting

in this maximum-security prison about to

witness what we think because at this

point there were appeals that were still

kind of playing out an execution you're

getting a Jim Pitts the horrible feeling

in your stomach that you feel you know

the thing is and the people ask me that

all the time is how can you handle this

and I can you see it you know I've been

in TV news for so long now it's been

like 26 27 years and might my second day

as an intern like the very first time I

ever was a part of a newsroom I saw the

most horrific scene as an accident scene

and that really affected me and I think

over the years you get a little bit of a

tolerance for it I want to say I'm

inhuman but you figure out a way to kind

of deal with that so I wouldn't say I

was upset thinking about watching

somebody die again I was more thinking

about the coverage dogs can provide

later on the odd thing is you're thrown

into an area with five other people that

you really

know very well as other members of the

media and your liaison and there's you

there's nothing to do there's no phone

to look at so you end up making

conversation you know it's interesting

you make conversation about different

things you talk about other executions

you talk about other stories you're

working on things like that so that's

what you do like the old days before we

spent talking all of our time on our

phone imagine talking so at what point

do the families come in no you don't

well we don't see them at all let me you

want to go chronologically because then

I can talk about us yeah I don't see the

family till I get in the death house

okay so let's talk about how eventually

you get into the to the death okay so

the liaison were with and now I'm

fast-forwarding because we were taken

out of the prison and brought back in so

this is like what it was actually going

to happen yeah so this is later in the

afternoon about 1:30 because there were

some delays with some last-minute legal

wrangling yeah

state Supreme Court took a look at it

but then went back and so at one o'clock

we've met in that outside classroom and

at 1:30 we were on the inside classroom

ready to go and that is when you knew

there will be an execution yeah I was

gonna happen so at that point he had no

more appeals or anything else so we our

liaison he's got a little earpiece in

his ear and we saw him kind of talking

than whatever he was talking to okay

yeah okay we're ready okay and then he

took us and this I think is maybe one of

the most intense parts of the three

executions that I've witnessed the first

one was back when it was midnight

because we used to execute people right

at midnight

this is 1995 I think it's the first one

I saw and you're walking through this

big open prison yard and this is an old

prison so like you see in the movies

where you walk in as a yard there's a

big building and a big building in a big

building and it's on lockdown and it's

dead silent I mean there's thousands of

people in there but it's silent and you

look up this is back with the midnight

and I could just see the outlines of the

heads of the other inmates looking down

on us as we walk through that courtyard

and it's silent except for the clicking

of our heels ooh I just got chills I'm

telling you it's it's a very very

intense walk back to this death house

and it's all the way on the other end

from where the entrance is you're

walking all the way through past these

big buildings the death house itself is

very small it's about the size of a half

of a double-wide trailer very small and

the death house consists of a small cell

where the condemned is held the room

where he'll be put to death

and our in our waiting room and so we

walked into it again very crayon it's

about 25 people in there we sit on

benches and it was so close that the

person sitting next to me we were

touching shoulders while we were in

there and this was the previous

execution this is yesterday I was fast

forward to yesterday since everybody's

talking about that today but it was very

similar in the previous two executions

but same place so we sat down on these

little benches touching shoulders

directly behind us as you turn around

and look you can see the outline of the

gas chamber it's still there the gas

chamber is directly behind me so as you

sit you can almost reach back and touch

it that's how small the room is and it's

got little blinds on it and then a big

chimney that shoots out of there they

would vent the gas right so nobody else

would get you know sick or killed

because of the gas and then directly in

front of us is a big like a picture

window rectangular with a curtain drawn

on it yeah and I think we've seen this

video we've shown some of this fitting

you see the basically the gurney the bed

that the right that the convict will lay

down yeah what was on and but what was

new this last time is they had two

monitors probably like 25 inch of

27-inch TV monitors on either side

because those would clicked on as soon

as we got in there and we saw wood

laying on the table with his arms

exposed so now as part of the process of

a witness you watch the IV's actually go

into his arms interesting why did they

not show that before is there a question

you don't see who's putting the XVI IVs

in you see them but they're wearing eye

protection and a mask so you could never

identify the executioner though that's

why state law you can't identify the

executioner this is it one person are

the two people two guards in there yes

yes to all three there were two people

medical personnel putting the IVs in the

there was a corrections officer in there

with him I believe at one point there

are two corrections officers and then at

one point the warden is also in there we

obviously don't need the identity of the

executioner but do we know if that is

the only role they play in the

Department of Corrections we don't know

much about them just a you're the only

thing they really release were there

they're in a very general way their

credentials you know what they how come

they're qualified to do this that's

about it okay so so the TV we see him

put the IV's in and he's

there and he's kind of looking around

and then the TV's go off the curtain

opens and there he is he's right there

he was wearing and that same kind of

orange jumpsuit you see him in there

short sleeves and the tops of the

sleeves which I thought was interesting

I've never seen before with Velcro so

they can open him up and get to his arms

really easily so it was a special suit

okay so the IV is up here on the top of

the IV was down here but he was wearing

short sleeves and they were velcro so I

think so they could slide up

they had a blood pressure okay good

determine his vital statistic you know

probably his eye probably and also to

pump up and get the veins right why no

why would they show the IV going in on

television screens and not just open the

the drapes basically and let you see it

live right there that's another good

question I mean I'll be honest with you

I was surprised that we had the TV

screens I've never seen that before

and you assume they're recording all of

this because they want to know that they

did it right in case anything goes wrong

they want to be able to have a record of

what happened and you also maybe get a

better view I mean the fact that you're

looking at a camera looking straight

down on them seeing everything happens

probably better than seeing something

like that happen from you know three or

four feet away a lot of people who

follow the death penalty and things that

that go along with it are very much

aware of a new drug protocol but other

people say why did it take two hours as

opposed to 10 minutes why is there all

of this hoopla surrounding the new drugs

why they switching the drug czar yes can

you talk a little bit for for years and

years there was a three-drug protocol

and so what they would do is they'd used

I believe it's a barbiturate to put you

out then there was another drug that

went in that stopped your lungs and the

last drug that went in stopped your

heart they're called paralytics they

basically make you paralyzed so the

whole process is pretty fast you stop

somebody's lungs and heart for 10

minutes all the tissues are dying and

it's over right but the people who made

those drugs they weren't made to kill

people they're made to help people in

different ways different uses right so

the settings right so the manufacturer

started saying hey wait a second you

know and there being people were

protesting them and things they said

look we we don't necessarily want our

product to be used to kill people

anymore we don't

want that so they stopped there was some

public pressure as well that's like okay

whatever the drug company that makes it

people who oppose the death penalty

we're putting pressure on you know

boycott so-and-so because their drugs

being used to put people there right and

they're selling it to Department of

Corrections that's around the country so

that stopped then they went to a single

drug protocol they went for a while that

was also very effective I think was like

a massive dose of barbiturates don't

quote me on that but I think that's what

it was a massive dose and that worked

well but then the same thing happened

that company said I no longer it was I

think it's called thiopental that

company said I no longer want my drug to

be used for this purpose so now all of a

sudden the Department of Corrections is

saying and not just ours but all over

the country okay what do we use and how

do you experiment on drugs you know

that'll kill people who's our volunteer

for that right we want to know that

whatever we use is effective it's

relatively quick but more importantly

not painful right because that's kind of

how it's it that's the law is written

the laws yeah I'm telling you as some

people would like to see it painful a

lot of people would like to see they're

saying why should he have a non painful

death would because he inflicted so much

pain I mean I I totally understand like

this family yesterday I felt for them so

much I mean they they wanted this guy to

suffer as much as he could I'm not

saying he's suffered yesterday let me

interrupt you for a second we're showing

is this the room that you release yeah

but they've they've changed it a little

bit they put like some I thought was

really interesting they put like blue

swatches of fabric on the back and I

thought that was odd is this case just

rolling if we can to our producers so it

looks at that one of the shots we showed

it looked very like kind of dark and

ominous and there's this pretty much the

lighting yeah I like the writing so okay

the window we were looking through the

one on the left okay and the window on

the right is where I assume I don't know

a hundred percent but the doctors or the

medical workers know something you know

the warden was actually standing in the

room so he'd be over here on the foot on

this side on the foot of the the bed

yeah and it's so tiny it's such a small

room yeah in the room we're sitting in

is not much larger so the right right

behind that window and but it's

tear tits there's a lower level than a

little bit higher than a little bit

higher so people used to stand and they

just put the benches in as well so

especially yesterday were last seen two

hours you're probably very happy there

were some benches in there okay so

they've got the IV in Joseph's woods arm

they do you see them injecting drugs no

that's never seen when do you realize

that okay the process is starting he's

still asleep so he was looking around

and I've always said to people they've

all said what you know it's an awful

watching these guys die and I say you

know I it really doesn't bother me all

that much I hate to say that it doesn't

it's not a pleasant sight but I'm not

like having nightmares about it but the

one tough part that I've always found is

when they look at you in your eyes

and that and it's like you know so

here's this guy who's killed people and

now he's about ready to be killed he

knows he's gonna be dead in two minutes

he's looking right in your face and it's

just a weird directly in your eyes oh

yeah

and was he doing this looking around the

room he can see all of you it's like he

picked out four or five of us he was

really kind of you know let's say giving

an evil eye or whatever but looking

right at us and that was and I was one

of them so I was weird he kept looking

at me now so and what would you kind of

assess his emotion was was he just

looking at you like hey I think I know

that guy or was it more other though I

can't believe this is my my last moment

he didn't look scared at all I mean the

last two guys I have to admit they look

terrified this guy didn't this guy was

just kind of he was almost like I said

almost giving you an evil I was really

yeah that was creepy that was the one

that was like that was the weirdest part

of the whole process for me interesting

and the family I think said something

about how he sneered at them or smiled

at ya he said he smiled and laughed at

him I never saw laughs I'm not saying it

didn't happen and I know that family

went through so much and they were

sitting right next to me and what I will

I mean I'll never forget the intensity

of that family either I mean we were in

there not to skip forward but we were in

there for a long time they never averted

their eyes they kept their eyes directly

on him being mean every time I would

look over it wasn't like they were

shuffling what I mean they were just

that family's been through so much yeah

and and for them this is at the end of a

really awful chat a 25-year chapter for

that family I'm happy to see him

court you know over and over and over

again and probably testifying over and

over and over again and looking at the

pictures of the loved ones who weren't

there anymore I can't imagine so he

falls asleep basically and when did you

thought ten fifteen twenty minutes maybe

max half an hour no I was thinking ten

minutes any of the other two executions

I saw her about ten minutes when did you

start to kind of look around and go this

is this is how it's supposed to go I

mean nobody in there had seen a two-hour

execution before I'm not sure who's ever

seen it to our lethal injection

execution I remember ones ever happen

but no I mean he he laid there and he

was asleep and I'm thinking okay well

this is just like the other ones I've

seen and they're gonna come in in ten

minutes it's gonna be over that's not

what happened he started kind of gulping

for air his mouth started opening and

closing and that was going on and then

I'm thinking to myself well and we're

looking at the crime scene here there's

a it was an auto body shop and this is

the scene 25 years ago - so when he

gunned down his ex-girlfriend and her

father Brooke and of course we're back

in the executioners room there that's

that's the the curtain now is on the

inside that the curtains not on the

outside it's on the inside of that room

okay so I forgot where I was we were

talking about it going on so long and

nobody had ever seen oh yeah executed oh

I mean he's he's kind of gulping for air

and and I thought - my minutes I thought

to myself well this is this is not you

know this is ugly but execution is not

pretty and that's whatever he's he'll

he'll be done soon and then it goes in

new half an hour and then it goes into

45 minutes then it goes into an hour so

think about you know as I said like

watching like two full episodes of

Seinfeld or watching the whole Fox ten

News at 9:00 and the whole thing that

whole hour you're just staring at a guy

doing that goal thing I'm telling you

about yeah and it and it wasn't

happening and at that point everybody's

kind of looking around saying what what

to happen what's going on here you know

is something gone wrong

his attorneys jumped up and ran out of

the death house and we found out later

they went to federal court trying to get

it stopped in the middle of the

execution they wanted him to be

resuscitated and life-saving measures

taken of which would have been the

unheard of problems I've never heard of

anybody doing in execution you said that

didn't work no well it didn't ever

happen ever

oh you're talking about their Court yeah

yeah they never got it and and then an

hour and 15 minutes it's still thinking

hour and a half I remember in an hour

and a half I wrote a note down in my

little notebook but I remember thinking

to myself what happens if they can't

kill this guy I mean are we at the point

where they can't do it I mean I'm

thinking after an hour and a half

whatever drugs they pumped into him

they've got to be pumping more or

whatever and it's nothing's going on and

it almost appeared at the very end and

probably just my mind's eye tricking me

but it appeared like his chest was

rising and falling like he was getting

more breath Dean it was at the very

beginning and I'm thinking it you know

what's happening but about 10 minutes

later was he stopped doing and it was

finally it was over at that point and

then what they they closed the curtains

right away then the Department of

Corrections had Ryan came in again and

said the inmate is to cease time of

death whatever it was it good it was 257

or I was later any tears any cheers and

he and he out bursts nobody the the only

time I saw the younger sister the family

member

tear up was when the death warrant was

read and when the death warrant was read

by the warden they mentioned the names

of the victims and at that point she

teared up a little bit right but from

then on no they were and you heard from

their comments yesterday and if anybody

out there heard their comments it was

you know it was still wrong and they're

just they're shattered they're just what

they've been through and it's finally

over and and they were frustrated that

the attention of this execution was

going on what happened to him

yeah and not going on which is totally

understandable you know it's taken on a

couple of stories obviously the first

story is the terrible crime he committed

then that he's on death row but the

whole drug protocol is a separate story

that is kind of being debated in this

country and and it's a there's a

conundrum because states that execute

prisoners don't know what to do and

they're trying to figure it out so

they're in this process of figuring it

out and and it's really two separate

stories but as a family member who's

lost somebody I can

exactly where they were coming from

they're hearing this conversation about

drug protocols and did it work did it

work effectively is this how it was

supposed to go and there and they're

thinking who cares he's dead that's all

that matters and in their opinion it

took way too long and they probably

would like to have had him suffer more

of course that's not the way we do

things in this country without I mean

and that's but you see what they're

coming I'm sorry they got caught up in

this particular execution I mean I feel

terrible for them that they got caught

if this execution had been no problems

whatsoever exactly as we thought I never

would have been I think way more Focus

on the Family what they went through

there were no focus on this protocol or

no focus on this guy at all but like you

said there's two different stories so

the fact that this didn't go well and

the fact that it's coming off two other

lethal injection executions that also

didn't go as planned it's part of this

this broadening debate right and they

got caught up in it and and it will

probably be figured out it might take

some time it might take some time after

the inmate is deceased they lead you out

and you go to speak to the cameras right

away yeah so when that's done the first

group of people who leave are the family

members I didn't go through that apprise

should add they bring us all in in

different groups that's why I never see

the family before we get in the death

house so the very first group that goes

in is his woods in this case his

attorneys and any family member that he

has you know he just had three attorneys

and a deacon then the media then state

officials the Florence police chief was

there and some other officials are who I

didn't a couple of my recognizing a

couple Munden know who they were and

then finally the family came in after

them so you all even that reverse order

so the family left first then we're all

standing there then this data fish was

left then we left so when we walked out

we walk straight through the prison

gates that we came in on he had very

long last words so we all got together

with our notepads

and figured out got the last words down

because I guess that's important then it

came the the EOC spokesperson got

exactly what his last words were we

decided okay that this is what it was

and then we walked out and then we

watched him that very first class when

we were in

and the assorted media was already set

up and ready there and that's where you

make a statement and then did it ever

cry I mean this is kind of how I was

thinking as this was going on I'm

sitting at my desk in the newsroom we

know the executions underway and I'm

thinking did this guy when he chose to

take a couple of lives ever think beyond

that moment of the repercussions of that

probably not if he did I would he

wouldn't have pulled that trigger and

yeah you know it's a stupid is a stupid

ugly senseless crime and you know we've

been in this business long enough I'd

say 95% of the crimes we see are exactly

that just stupid senseless and then but

they have huge impacts and and this guy

I don't know you know I don't know a lot

about this guy but you know it was 25

years ago he's at all that time to think

about it and then he gets killed yeah

and I think if you were to ask them

would you had done this over again of

course he would have said yes but it

didn't happen that way mm-hmm he made

that stupid decision to go over there

and kill those people that evil decision

he made and that led to this well Troy

Hayden one of the few witnesses to the

execution that and that has made news

really around the world for for reasons

other than just a prisoner was executed

but now it brings up in the debate of

how do we go about doing this in the

future and was it really effective and

should we continue with this protocol we

appreciate your insight I feel as if I

were there I had one more thing yeah III

get the question a lot why have you been

to three of these things why do you do

that so I want to explain next I think

that's a valid question the very first

one I went to was when I was a young

reporter back in 1995 I think I said

that earlier and that was just straight

luck of the draw and it just came up and

somebody said would you be willing to do

this I said yes I thought it'd be good

to do this the second one was the very

first change in this drug protocol and

it became a big deal and part of this

debate it was in 2010 so it was 15 years

after the first one and that Jeffrey

Landrigan was his name and so we were

talking about these different drugs

there was a question about whether or

not the drugs came from overseas and it

was kind of a big deal so I was asked if

I wanted to do that when I said yes

because again it was another kind of

landmark case and I could tell we were

along that

those drugs were the same drugs they

were using before but where they got the

drugs at that point they were just

running out and it turns out I believe

it's been proven at this point but it

was alleged that the term apartment of

Corrections got them from overseas cuz

we couldn't get him here anymore okay

and so that apparently was a big deal at

that at that time and so again this drug

protocol had changed I knew heading into

this that we were dealing with something

else and so I wanted to see this one

again and be part of this and as a

anchor reporter and if you watch any of

the stuff I do you know that I like to

get out and experience things firsthand

and I feel it's the best way for me to

be able to communicate to viewers what

happens inside of these things whether

it's a breaking news situation so any

execution going forward I can say to

viewers

okay here's what happens let me take you

through this I've been there so I think

you'll do another one no no I think I

think I think you completely were to

change the protocol would you sign up to

maybe another lethal injection I don't

know I mean if they went back to I mean

some federal ejections go to firing

squad and I'm laughing about it but you

know I mean a lot of people are I put on

my Facebook page and people are going

crazy or saying yes go go do it I mean

you know maybe give it give the option

because maybe somebody would prefer that

as a way to go very interesting thank

you for sharing I feel like I was there

after listening to your description and

we appreciate all of your time it was a

long day for you and a long day for

everybody down there and thanks for

joining us on the Fox 10 YouTube channel