• Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer
Monday, February 6, 2023
Massachusetts Digital News
  • Home
  • US
  • Business
  • World
  • Boston
  • Worcester
  • Springfield
  • Cambridge
  • Lowell
  • Brockton
  • Press Releases
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • US
  • Business
  • World
  • Boston
  • Worcester
  • Springfield
  • Cambridge
  • Lowell
  • Brockton
  • Press Releases
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home US

Alabama Executes Matthew Reeves Despite Intellectual Disability

by Duong
January 28, 2022
in US
alabama-executes-matthew-reeves-despite-intellectual-disability
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ATMORE, Ala (WIAT) – The State of Alabama has executed Matthew Reeves, an intellectually disabled Black man, for the 1996 murder of Willie Johnson in Dallas County. He was pronounced dead at 9:24 p.m., according to a prison official.

Reeves’ execution had been set for 6 p.m. but was delayed while the U.S. Supreme Court considered an appeal of a stay preventing his lethal injection. Around 7:30 p.m., the court lifted the stay and the execution process moved forward.

Reeves’ execution began around 9:03 p.m. He spoke no final words.

Reeves grimaced as the process began. His arms outstretched and held down by straps, wrapped in a white sheet, Reeves looked around the room as the execution proceeded.

By 9:10, Reeves’ eyes were closed, but his breathing appeared labored.

A prison official then performed a consciousness test on Reeves, waving his hand over Reeves’ face and pinching his arm. At the time of the test, Reeves still appeared to be breathing.

By 9:13, all movement has ceased.

The curtain to the execution chamber closed at 9:18 p.m.

ADOC Commissioner Hamm spoke at a press conference after the execution, delivering a statement provided by the family of Willie Johnson.

“After 26 years, justice have finally been served,” the statement said. “Our family can now have some closure.”

The day before his execution, Reeves was visited by his mother, his sister, and an investigator with the Federal Defenders’ office, according to ADOC Deputy Commissioner Jeffery Williams. He spoke on the phone twice, once with a friend and once with a lawyer.

On the day of his execution, Reeves was visited by his mother and sister, the official said. He also spoke over the phone with them, as well as his attorneys. 

Reeves refused breakfast, lunch, and a final meal today, Williams said, although the prison official indicated Reeves was “observed drinking a Sprite.”

Reeves made no special requests of the government that would execute him. 

He was moved to a holding cell outside of the execution chamber the evening of his execution. 

Although Reeves died by lethal injection, he had expressed his desire to be executed by nitrogen suffocation, a method approved by the Alabama Legislature in 2018.

An execution using the method, which involves replacing oxygen needed to breathe with nitrogen gas, has never been carried out in the United States. Oklahoma and Mississippi are the only other states that have authorized its use.

Inmates were given the option to choose whether to be executed through lethal injection or nitrogen suffocation during a 30-day period in 2018, but Reeves did not opt-in during that time. Reeves’ lawyers have argued that he would have done so if he were able to understand the form prison officials provided him on the issue. Because they did not provide Smith, whose IQ is around 70, an accommodation to better understand his options, prison officials violated the inmate’s right under the Americans with Disabilities Act, his lawyers have said.

In December, a federal district court ruled that Reeves was “substantially likely” to prevail in court on his disability claim. Alabama appealed the decision to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, but a three-judge panel rejected the state’s appeal, keeping in place the order preventing Reeves’ execution.

On Thursday, the US Supreme Court lifted that stay in a 5-4 vote, resulting in Reeves’ death by lethal injection.

Read More Here

Related Posts

2-dead-in-new-mexico-wildfire-that-forced-evacuations-and-damaged-homes

2 Dead In New Mexico Wildfire That Forced Evacuations And Damaged Homes

by NewsReporter
April 14, 2022
0

(CNN)Two people have died in the McBride Fire raging in New Mexico that has scorched more than 5,000 acres in the Sierra Blanco mountain range, police said.They were found Wednesday in a burned home in Ruidoso, New Mexico, state police said in a news release. Soon after, local police were...

bye-bye,-benjamin:-the-lieutenant-governor-has-gone

Bye Bye, Benjamin: The Lieutenant Governor Has Gone

by NewsReporter
April 13, 2022
0

New York Daily News | Apr 13, 2022 at 4:10 AM Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin leaving court at 500 Pearl Street after being arrested and indicted in the connection of campaign finance scheme on charges including bribery and falsification of records, Manhattan, New York, Tuesday April 12, 2022. (Shawn Inglima/for...

explainer:-what-do-new-alabama-laws-say-on-transgender-kids?

EXPLAINER: What Do New Alabama Laws Say On Transgender Kids?

by Duong
April 12, 2022
0

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama has become the first state to criminalize the use of puberty blockers and hormones to treat transgender people under age 19. In line with some other Republican-led states, legislators here also passed a law requiring students to use bathrooms corresponding to their sex at birth and...

biden-to-announce-new-gun-regulation-–-follow-live

Biden To Announce New Gun Regulation – Follow Live

by Duong
April 11, 2022
0

(Getty Images)President Joe Biden is expected to announce new gun regulations on Monday to rein in so-called “ghost guns” — privately made firearms without serial numbers that have been used in several high-profile violent crimes.Mr Biden is expected to nominate Steve Dettlebach, an Obama-era US attorney, to run the Bureau...

Massachusetts Digital News

© 2021 Massachusetts Digital News

Navigate Site

  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • DMCA Policy
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • CCPA
  • Terms of Use

© 2021 Massachusetts Digital News

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT