MCALESTER, Okla. (AP) — Death penalty experts say a sedative Oklahoma used to execute an inmate that is commonly used to euthanize animals could become more popular.
That’s because of a nationwide shortage of a key ingredient in several states’ lethal injection formulas.
John David Duty is believed to be the first person in the United States whose execution included the use of pentobarbital. The 58-year-old was pronounced dead at 6:18 p.m. Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
Oklahoma and several other states traditionally have used the barbiturate sodium thiopental to put an inmate to sleep. They then use two other drugs to paralyze the muscles and stop the heart.
But the only U.S. maker of sodium thiopental, Hospira Inc., says new batches won’t be available until “the first quarter” of next year.
