A convicted assassin and rapist was executed by nitrogen fuel on Thursday — 14 years after he was transferred to Alabama whereas serving a life sentence in Michigan for a separate homicide.
Demetrius Frazier grew to become the fourth inmate within the US to be put to loss of life by the tactic as he served his sentence for the 1991 homicide of Pauline Brown on the Holman Correctional Facility.
Frazier, 52, was convicted of capital homicide for breaking into Pauline Brown’s Birmingham condominium and raping her at gunpoint earlier than killing her when he was 19.
In his final moments on Earth, he tried to atone for his crime of killing Brown.
“I wish to apologize to the household and buddies of Pauline Brown,” he stated. “What occurred to her ought to have by no means occurred.”
Frazier additionally appeared to name out Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as he waited to be executed, saying, “In the event you can’t get up for the structure of Michigan, how are you going to face up for the US Structure if you run for president?” in accordance with the Montgomery Advertiser.
His last phrases had been: “Detroit robust. I really like everybody on Demise Row. Let’s go.”
Frazier’s masks was then closed, and the fuel started flowing at 6:13 p.m. He had no seen motion by about eight minutes later, and the curtains to the execution chamber closed at 6:29 p.m. He was formally pronounced lifeless at 6:36 p.m.
The fuel flowed for round 18 minutes, however Frazier flatlined about 13 minutes into the method, in accordance with Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm. He added that he believed that Frazier shortly misplaced consciousness after the fuel was launched.
A few of Brown’s household had been in attendance for his execution.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey stated in her state, “We implement the legislation,” in a post-execution assertion.
“You don’t come to our state and mess with our residents and get away with it,” Ivey stated.
“Rapists and murderers aren’t welcome on our streets, and tonight, justice was carried out for Pauline Brown and her family members.”
Earlier than his loss of life, Frazier’s legal professionals argued he belonged in Michigan, however Michigan’s Governor took no motion to return him to his dwelling state.
Gov. Whitmer — who confronted criticism from Frazier’s mom and loss of life penalty opponents for not bringing him again to Michigan to serve out his life sentence and keep away from the loss of life penalty — stated earlier than the execution that “Sadly,” her predecessor, former Gov. Rick Snyder, agreed to ship him to Alabama.
“It’s a extremely robust scenario,” she advised The Detroit Information. “I perceive the pleas and considerations. Michigan shouldn’t be a loss of life penalty state.”
Michigan grew to become the first state within the US to outlaw the loss of life penalty in 1847.
Frazier confessed to homicide after he was arrested in his dwelling state of Michigan for killing 14-year-old Crystal Kendrick in 1992 — a 12 months after killing Brown.
Throughout his trial, prosecutors stated Frazier robbed Brown, 41, after he sexually assaulted her.
He then shot Brown within the head when she solely had $80 to provide him.
Frazier returned to her condominium later to search for cash and had a snack from her kitchen whereas Brown lay lifeless on the ground for hours.
In 1996, whereas serving life in jail in Michigan for Kendrick’s homicide, an Alabama jury convicted him of murdering Brown. With a vote of 10-2, it was really helpful he obtain a loss of life sentence.
He was transferred to Alabama underneath an association made in 2011 to maneuver him to loss of life row for Brown’s homicide.
Frazier selected Taco Bell burritos and Mountain Dew as his final meal.
Following his execution, he grew to become the fourth particular person within the US to be put to loss of life by nitrogen fuel.
Alabama was the primary state to place nitrogen fuel executions into follow and used the tactic on three folks final 12 months.
His execution adopted a deadly injection Wednesday in Texas and one other final Friday in South Carolina, making him the third particular person within the US to be executed in 2025.
with Submit wires
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