Tennessee death row inmate granted one-year stay after botched lethal injection

Thursday 21 May 2026 21:26 BST(AP)Tony Carruthers' scheduled execution in Tennessee was halted after officials failed to find a vein for the lethal injection, prompting Governor Bill Lee to grant a one-year stay. Carruthers, 57, was convicted for the 1994 kidnappings and murders of Marcellos Anderson, Delois Anderson, and Frederick Tucker, but his case has been plagued by questions regarding evidence and his mental competency. A significant concern is that Carruthers was compelled to represent himself during his trial, and his conviction relied heavily on witness testimony, including a paid informant, with no physical evidence linking him to the killings. His legal team contends that Carruthers suffers from 'paranoia and delusions,' believing the government is bluffing about his execution and that his own attorneys are part of a conspiracy against him. The incident also highlighted ongoing issues with Tennessee's lethal injection protocols, as the state resumed executions after a hiatus due to problems with drug testing and officials admitting to incorrect testimony about drug purity. In fullTennessee death row inmate Tony Carruthers avoids execution after officials fail to find vein

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