Carey Dale Grayson, convicted for the brutal murder of Vickie Lynn Deblieux in 1994, is scheduled to become the third inmate executed by nitrogen gas on November 21, 2024, at Alabama’s Holman Correctional Facility.

Grayson's upcoming execution marks a significant moment in the use of nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution, raising ethical questions as previous executions using this method have been described by witnesses as torturous. Despite having filed multiple appeals disputing the method's pain and suffering, Grayson, who was convicted for one of the state's most heinous crimes, continues to face the death penalty as Alabama has approximately 160 inmates on death row who can choose between various execution methods.

Carey Dale Grayson was convicted for the torture, bludgeoning, and mutilation of Vickie Lynn Deblieux on February 21, 1994. The crime shocked the community; Grayson's actions included cutting Deblieux's body at least 180 times, revealing the extreme brutality of the murder. This horrific crime contributed significantly to the legal proceedings leading to his current death sentence.

At the time of the offense, Grayson was just 19 years old. He was tried alongside three co-defendants, all of whom were younger than him. As a result, their death sentences were subsequently reversed, a contrast that adds complexity to Grayson's case. His age during the crime and the psychological background provided by his diagnosis of bipolar disorder have been focal points in his appeals against the execution.

The execution is set to take place at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. This facility has been the site of past executions and is now preparing for Grayson’s impending death sentence to be carried out with nitrogen hypoxia – a method that is relatively new in the United States. To date, Kenneth Eugene Smith and Alan Eugene Miller have already been executed using this method, raising concerns about its humanitarian implications.

Witnesses of previous nitrogen executions have described the process as torturous. During these executions, some witnesses reported seeing convulsions and prolonged suffering from the inmates, leading to heated debates over the appropriateness of nitrogen gas as an execution method. Critics have raised alarm over the potential for extreme pain and a lack of humane treatment, aligning their arguments with Grayson's appeals against the nitrogen hypoxia method.

Grayson's legal team has heavily focused their arguments on the pain associated with nitrogen gas, claiming that it violates Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The legal battles surrounding his case reflect broader concerns about the death penalty itself and the methods being utilized in states like Alabama.

Furthermore, Grayson's background is significant in understanding his life prior to the murder. His mother died when he was just three years old after battling mental illness, which has been factored into discussions regarding his mental health and culpability in the crime. Grayson’s psychological struggles provide context to his actions, yet they have not spared him from the ultimate consequence of the law as he faces execution.

Alabama’s death row currently houses around 160 inmates, each presented with options for their execution methods. While lethal injection remains a common chosen method, the introduction of nitrogen hypoxia has sparked interest and concern among legal and human rights advocates alike. The option to select an execution method reflects the varying attitudes towards capital punishment and the desire for what is perceived as a more humane alternative.

As the date for Grayson’s execution approaches, it serves as an intersection of criminal justice, ethical considerations, and the societal implications of the death penalty in the United States. Grayson is set to become the third inmate in the U.S. executed with nitrogen gas. The method of execution, particularly the use of nitrogen hypoxia, has raised pivotal discussions regarding its treatment of inmates on death row, with witnesses describing previous nitrogen executions as torture.