what are some executions that have been botched?
Some well-known botched executions include cases where the method failed, took far too long, or had to be stopped before completion. Recent examples and historical cases show that lethal injection, hanging, electrocution, and firing-squad-style executions have all gone wrong in different ways.
Recent example
- Tony Carruthers (Tennessee, 2026): Officials halted the execution after they could not establish a usable backup IV line, and the execution was called off.
- This was described as a botched attempt because the process could not be completed as planned.
Historical examples
- Doyle Lee Hamm (Alabama, 2018): Execution staff spent more than two hours trying to find a vein, puncturing him multiple times before stopping the execution.
- William Kemmler (New York, 1890): The first electric-chair execution was widely reported as a “historic bungle,” with witnesses describing smoke and a prolonged, horrifying death.
- Jimmy Lee Gray (Mississippi, 1983): He reportedly gasped and thrashed for a prolonged period during electrocution.
- Angel Diaz (Florida, 2006): The lethal-injection process went wrong and had to be repeated after the first dose failed to work properly.
- Romell Broom (Ohio, 2009): Executioners tried repeatedly but could not complete the lethal injection, and the execution was abandoned.
- Kenny Smith (Alabama, 2024): A lethal-injection attempt was called off, later becoming part of a broader discussion about failed executions in Alabama.
Why they happen
The most common causes are problems with IV access, drug delivery failures, equipment problems, or execution methods that cause prolonged suffering instead of a quick death. Reports and reviews cited by death-penalty groups say lethal injection has had the highest rate of botched executions among modern methods.
Examples at a glance
| Name | Year | What went wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Carruthers | 2026 | Execution stopped because staff could not secure a backup IV line. | [1]
| Doyle Lee Hamm | 2018 | Repeated failed IV attempts and multiple punctures. | [9]
| William Kemmler | 1890 | First electric-chair execution badly malfunctioned. | [10]
| Romell Broom | 2009 | Execution attempt was abandoned after repeated failed IV access. | [12]
What people usually mean
When people ask about “botched executions,” they usually mean executions that were prolonged, visibly painful, technically failed, or had to be aborted entirely. In modern reporting, these cases are often used to question whether a method can be carried out humanely or reliably.
TL;DR: famous botched executions include Tony Carruthers, Doyle Lee Hamm, William Kemmler, Angel Diaz, Romell Broom, and Kenny Smith, with most failures involving IV problems or method malfunctions.
