Florida Executions Resume With New Drug In Mix (Video)

RAIFORD, FL — The Thursday execution of convicted murderer Mark Asay was the first in Florida after an 18-month hiatus. It also marked the first time the sedative etomidate was used as an ingredient in the state’s lethal injection cocktail.

Asay, 53, was sentenced to death following the 1987 racially motivated murders of Robert Lee Booker and Robert McDowell. His execution had been on hold as the state grappled with a U.S. Supreme Court-ordered halt of the practice in early 2016. The court ruled Florida’s sentencing process violated the constitution because judges were given too much power to dole out the death penalty. Florida ultimately revised sentencing guidelines to require a unanimous jury recommendation, paving the way for executions to resume.

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Asay’s sentence was carried out at 6:22 p.m. Aug. 24. The use of etomidate was controversial because it was the first time the pharmaceutical had been used in an execution in the United States. The drug was used in place of midazolam, which manufacturers have been making harder to obtain to prevent its use in executions. The state revised its lethal injection protocol in January to include the use of etomidate, along with potassium acetate and rocuronium bromide.

Asay’s attorneys appealed to the Florida Supreme Court earlier this month in an attempt to reject the use of etomidate. They argued the new drug would cause their client too much pain. The court rejected the argument as did the U.S. Supreme Court, which denied a last-minute stay request on Asay's behalf Thursday.

State officials said Asay died Thursday without making a final statement. He also indicated no signs of pain as the three-drug cocktail carried out the sentence.

Florida had 360 inmates on Death Row as of Aug. 25, including three women, according to state records.

Find out more about the etomidate controversy by watching the video below:

Image via Shutterstock