Kenneth Smith was an American criminal who was finally executed on 25 January 2024 for the crime he committed back in 1988. He became the first person in the world to be put to death by using nitrogen hypoxia.
Kenneth was convicted of the March 18, 1988 murder for hire of Elizabeth Sennett in Colbert County, Alabama. He was recruited by Billy Gray Williams who was initially recruited by Elizabeth’s husband, Charles Sennett Sr. to murder his wife.
.@eji_org Bryan Stevenson on the injustice of the death penalty, and what he perceives as the cruel and unusual nature of the Alabama execution of #KennethSmith . @CNN pic.twitter.com/3vwEFxeeml
— Laura Coates (@thelauracoates) January 26, 2024
Moreover, Kenneth was also assisted by John Forrest Parker in the murder. The duo murdered 45-year-old Elizabeth by stabbing her to death at her home in Colbert County.
Following the incident, Elizabeth’s husband, Charles killed himself after finding out he was a suspect in the murder. The law then sentenced one of the convicts, Billy to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Besides, Kenneth and John were both sentenced to death. John was later executed in June 2010 via lethal injection.
Back in November 2022, Kenneth was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection. However, the execution was stopped after the execution team was unable to connect the intravenous lines to Kenneth in the time available before the expiration of the death warrant issued by the Alabama Supreme Court.
Now, let’s learn about Kenneth Smith execution, wiki, age, parents, wife, married, ethnicity, bio, family, and other interesting facts.
Kenneth Smith Execution Via Nitrogen Gas
After Kenneth’s execution via lethal injection in November 2022 failed, the state agreed to utilize a secondary novel method of execution, nitrogen hypoxia. Finally, the execution was completed on Thursday, 25 January 2024, at 8:25 p.m. Central time at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama.
Kenneth Smith Execution: How Nitrogen Hypoxia Method Works – Step By Stephttps://t.co/SG68o3kQD7
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 26, 2024
During one of the first kinds of execution in the United States, Kenneth was fitted with a mask and administered a flow of nitrogen gas. He was deprived of oxygen until his death.
The lawyers of the state and even Kenneth’s lawyers confirmed the execution method as preferable and painless to the troubled practice of lethal injection in the state.
Learn About: Noah Bookbinder Wikipedia: His Wiki, Age & Family Life Explored
Kenneth Smith Wiki and Family: Age, Parents, Siblings, Ethnicity
Kenneth Eugene Smith was born on 4 July 1965 in the United States. He was 58 years of age when he died on 25 January 2024.
Talking about his upbringing, Kenneth was raised by his mother, Linda Smith. She once mentioned in an interview that Kenneth was born 10 minutes until six on July 4th and it was the happiest she had ever been.
Kenneth grew up alongside his younger brother, Joey Smith who was born one and a half years after him. The two were inseparable as kids and used to play in the woods all the time.
With American nationality, Kenneth had white ethnicity.
Kenneth Smith Married Life: Who Is His Wife?
Kenneth was married to his wife, Deanna Smith for a long time. In fact, the couple raised two sons together.
Deanna had a last conversation with Kenneth before his execution on 25 January 2024. She even brought the bible with her which the guard didn’t allow later.
One of Kenneth’s sons, Steven Tiggleman has also shared his earliest memories with Kenneth. Steven was just 4 years old when his father was incarcerated.
Kenneth and his son, Steven used to ride in a dune buggy. He also gave an art set full of watercolors to Steven which made him super happy.
Although Kenneth was behind bars, he was never absent from Steven’s life. He helped his son through so much as recalled by Steven.