Tennessee Execution

Maria DeLiberato, attorney for death row inmate Tony Von Carruthers, speaks to reporters after the execution of Carruthers was called off because a suitable vein could not found as required by lethal injection execution protocol Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.

Tags

As featured on

Tennessee fails to execute Tony Carruthers after IV difficulties. State won't try again for a year

Tennessee fails to execute Tony Carruthers after IV difficulties. State won't try again for a year

Tennessee officials have called off the lethal injection of Tony Carruthers, who was convicted of kidnapping and murdering three people in 1994, after his executioners tried and failed for over an hour to establish an intravenous line. Gov. Bill Lee says the state will not try again for at least a year. The Tennessee Department of Corrections said medical personnel had quickly established a primary IV line Thursday but were unable to find a suitable vein for a backup line as required by the state’s execution protocol. Maria DeLiberato, an attorney for Carruthers, said she saw him “wincing and groaning” Thursday as the medical team worked.