On Thursday, Carey Dale Grayson, an inmate on death row in Alabama, became the third person in the United States to be executed using nitrogen gas.

At the age of 50, Grayson was put to death for the brutal murder of Vickie Lynn DeBlieux, which occurred on February 21, 1994. DeBlieux, who was 37 years old, was hitchhiking from Tennessee to visit her mother in Louisiana when she was picked up by Grayson and three other teenagers, after which they murdered her, according to court documents. The Alabama Department of Corrections reported that Grayson was pronounced dead at 6:33 p.m.

This execution marks the 22nd carried out in the U.S. this year and the sixth in Alabama, which has employed nitrogen gas as a execution method three times, a method that some onlookers have criticized as inhumane.

Governor Kay Ivey expressed via a statement that “an execution by nitrogen hypoxia cannot compare to the horrific death and disfigurement experienced by Ms. DeBlieux.”

“I offer my prayers for her family as they continue their journey toward healing,” she stated.

Jodi DeBlieux Haley, who was only 12 years old at the time of her mother’s murder, shared at a press conference after the execution about the kind of person her mother was.

“She was one of a kind. She had a spontaneous spirit, a wild side, and a wonderful sense of humor,” Haley recalled. “She was beautiful too. I have never known what it’s like to have a mother beside me throughout milestones like graduation, marriage, or the joy and pain of life. All of that was taken away from me.”

Here’s what to know about Grayson’s execution, including details about his last meal and final words, as well as why Haley stands against the death penalty despite her immense loss.

Carey Dale Grayson’s Final Words

Grayson’s last words were not filled with remorse or love typical of many inmates; instead, he used profanity and raised his middle fingers.

When it was time for his last statement, he said: “Yeah … you need to (expletive) off!” His microphone was quickly silenced as the execution commenced.

As the nitrogen gas was administered, Grayson was seen clenching his hands tightly, gasping deeply, shaking his head, and struggling against his restraints. He appeared to lose consciousness at 6:18 p.m., about six minutes after the gas started.

John Q. Hamm, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Corrections, later commented that Grayson’s initial reactions seemed to be “for show.”

What Did Carey Dale Grayson Eat for His Last Meal?

For his final meal, Grayson chose to have soft tacos, beef burritos, a tostada, chips with guacamole, and a Mountain Dew Blast.

What Was Carey Dale Grayson’s Crime?

On February 21, 1994, Vickie Lynn DeBlieux was left by a friend in Chattanooga, Tennessee, near Interstate 59, to start hitchhiking southwest. Grayson, then 19 years old, and three other teens picked her up on an interstate in Jefferson County, Alabama, close to Birmingham.

The group stopped in a wooded area on Bald Mountain, where they assaulted DeBlieux, beating and kicking her. Evidence presented in court indicated that Grayson and another teen stood on her throat until she was dead.

Her remains were later discarded off a cliff, and the teens returned to further desecrate her body, inflicting at least 180 cuts, removing part of a lung, and severing her fingers, court records report.

Law enforcement began investigating the teens as suspects when one of the boys showed a friend DeBlieux’s severed finger.

Alongside Grayson, fellow teens Kenny Loggins, Trace Duncan, and Louis Mangione were also convicted of the crime. However, the death sentences of Duncan, Loggins, and Mangione were later overturned, leading them to receive life sentences without the possibility of parole, following a 2005 Supreme Court ruling against executing minors at the time of their crimes.

Victim’s Daughter Speaks Against ‘State-Sanctioned Homicide’

Despite the profound loss of her mother, Haley emphasizes that she does not entirely blame Grayson, acknowledging the complexities surrounding the situation.

He experienced extreme physical and sexual abuse during his childhood and was still very young when he was forced to live on the streets.

“I really question how these situations are overlooked by the justice system,” she stated. “Society let this man down as a child, and my family has suffered because of it.”

She expressed her opposition to the death penalty, arguing that “it is morally wrong” and that “the act of executing inmates under the pretense of justice must end.”

“State-sanctioned killings should never be recorded as a cause of death,” she emphasized. “I can’t fathom who we think we are. In this advanced era, we take a step backward by enforcing this punishment. I hope and pray that my mother’s death will inspire necessary changes and bring some meaning to her tragic demise.”

Details on Carey Dale Grayson’s Execution Method

Grayson was executed using nitrogen hypoxia, a method first utilized in the U.S. during Alabama’s execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in January. This execution attracted significant criticism and media coverage, even prompting a protest from the Vatican.

Smith was observed to struggle and convulse on the gurney for over four minutes during the execution. Officials from the state and prison systems had previously stated that Smith would lose consciousness “within seconds” and be deceased shortly after the gas began flowing into his full-face mask.

The Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Corrections, John Q. Hamm, described Smith’s execution as “textbook” in a statement made roughly 30 minutes after Smith’s death.

The execution of Alan Eugene Miller in September marked the second use of nitrogen gas in Alabama.

This method involves administering pure nitrogen through a mask, replacing the oxygen in the individual’s system. Supporters argue that it is an instantaneous and painless procedure, while critics contend that it equates to torture.

Who Was Carey Dale Grayson?

Grayson struggled with bipolar disorder, and his mother passed away when he was just three years old after a long battle with mental illness, according to court documents.

A forensic psychologist testified that Grayson was “in a manic state” during the crime but maintained the ability to distinguish right from wrong and comprehend the wrongful nature of his actions, as stated in court records.

During a police interrogation, Grayson described the younger teenagers involved as committing the most egregious acts during the incident. When questioned about the motive for killing DeBlieux, he reportedly told the authorities that he did not know and deemed it “not his problem.”