Alabama completes its fourth execution by means of nitrogen gas

As reported in this local article, “Alabama Death Row inmate was executed tonight for the 1991 slaying of a woman in her Birmingham apartment, who he admitted killing after he got tired of hearing her beg for her life.”  Here is more:

Demetrius Terrence Frazier was executed at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. The 52-year-old was put to death by inhaling pure nitrogen gas through a gas mask. He is the fourth inmate in Alabama — and the country — to be executed using that method. It is Alabama’s first execution for 2025 after having led the nation in 2024 with six executions – by either lethal injection or nitrogen gas….

Though Frazier’s execution was punishment for the 1991 slaying of Pauline Brown, he was also serving a life sentence in Michigan for the 1992 killing of a teenager. He was brought to Alabama to await execution in 2011.  Frazier’s lawyers were hoping that before Frazier was escorted into the execution chamber, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would ask Alabama to halt the execution and send the inmate back north. That didn’t happen….

Prior to being transferred to the Yellowhammer State in 2011, Frazier was serving multiple life sentences in Michigan for sex crimes and the murder of a 14-year-old girl. Frazier’s lawyers argued that his transfer to Alabama Death Row was illegal, and he should have been serving his life sentences up north. While that battle is no longer being waged in court, Frazier was hoping the Michigan governor would step in. But the Detroit News reported that Whitmer said this afternoon that it was out of her hands.

Brown was a daughter, sister, mother, and had recently become a grandmother. She had worked for 20 years as a cook at Bama Foods. Her life ended in the early morning hours of November 27, 1991, when she was raped and shot in the back of the head. She had been discussing with her mom the plans for Thanksgiving, which was only two days away.