The Atlantic

Arkansas's Fourth Execution in 8 Days

The death of Kenneth Williams marks the last in a series of lethal injections the state carried out before its execution drug expired.
Source: Kelly P. Kissel / AP

Arkansas executed its fourth death-row inmate Thursday night, marking the last of a series of executions the state carried out before its supply of the drug used for lethal injections expired.

Although the drug used in described Williams as “lurching, convulsing, coughing and jerking” for 20 minutes before he died, suggesting the drug didn’t sedate him as it was supposed to.

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