Killer Executed on Death Row in Louisiana

ANGOLA, LA - The death penalty is back in use in Louisiana. The state has executed its first death row inmate in 15 years. Jesse Hoffman had been on death row for nearly 30 years. He kidnapped, robbed, raped and killed Molly Elliott in 1996.

He was executed last night by nitrogen hypoxia after the state and U.S. supreme courts declined to intervene. After the execution, Attorney General Liz Murrill says this is final justice for Elliott’s family and her loved ones. She says justice was long overdue.

Protestors gathered outside the death house to hold vigil during the execution. Some spoke out against the use of nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution. Elliot's sister-in-law spoke out against executing Hoffman, but Murrill says here immediate family wanted the execution to proceed.

Corrections Secretary Gary Westcott said the execution went flawlessly.

"Nitrogen began to flow at 6:21 PM and flowed for approximately 19 minutes."

Hoffman’s EKG flatlined after 14 minutes, and protocol dictated that the nitrogen gas continue to flow for five more minutes.

Longtime nurse Seth Smith who is Corrections Chief of Operations says he did not see Hoffman suffer in pain during the execution.

He did have some convulsive activity and I was told he may have had some fine motor stuff after that that I personally did not see from my angle. Nothing that I would say is consistent with pain and nothing that I would say is inconsistent with death.

AG Murrill notes there are now 55 inmates on death row in Louisiana, and executions using nitrogen hypoxia will continue.