ANGOLA, La. (AP) — Louisiana executed Jessie Hoffman Jr. using nitrogen gas on March 18, 2025, marking the state’s first execution in 15 years. The execution, which took place at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, brought an end to a lengthy hiatus caused by an inability to obtain lethal injection drugs. Hoffman was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. after nitrogen gas had flowed for 19 minutes. This method of execution is controversial, raising questions about its humaneness and legality.
Hoffman, 46, was convicted in the 1996 murder of Mary “Molly” Elliott, a 28-year-old advertising executive who was kidnapped and killed in New Orleans. During the crime, Hoffman, then 18, abducted Elliott from a downtown parking garage where she parked daily for work. She was later found dead near the Pearl River. After years of legal appeals, courts declined to block the execution, including a 5-4 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on the day of Hoffman’s death.
The choice of nitrogen gas for the execution raised significant legal and ethical issues. Critics, including Hoffman’s attorneys, argued that the method could be seen as cruel and unusual punishment, violating the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. They also contended that the execution infringed on his Buddhist beliefs, which involved meditation and breathing practices before death. Despite these arguments, state officials asserted that nitrogen hypoxia was a painless method of execution.
Gary Westcott, secretary of Louisiana’s Department of Public Safety and Corrections, reported that the execution went “flawless.” In contrast, human rights advocates and death penalty critics expressed their outrage, citing the psychological trauma not only to the condemned but also to the witnesses and victims’ families.
While in prison, Hoffman reportedly transformed into a man who sought redemption and forgiveness. His lawyers and family highlighted that he no longer resembled the teenager who committed the murder. Cecelia Koppel, one of his attorneys, described him as “a man who was deeply loved” and somebody who “showed extraordinary capacity for redemption.” His wife, Ilona, expressed that the execution failed to reflect the man he had become and criticized the judicial system for not recognizing his growth.
On the morning of the execution, multiple courts had already ruled against his legal team’s last-ditch efforts to halt the killing. A federal judge and the Louisiana Supreme Court both declined his lawyers' requests to stop the execution, classifying the arguments regarding jury bias and religious freedoms as lacking merit. This decision came amidst a backdrop of criticism surrounding the speed at which the state had modernized its execution protocols without allowing for thorough judicial review.
As the execution drew nearer, anti-death penalty supporters and members of the clergy gathered outside the prison for a vigil, praying for Hoffman and calling for an end to the death penalty in Louisiana. While some witnessed the execution inside, many onlookers held prayer vigils emphasizing the need for compassion over vengeance.
Governor Jeff Landry, alongside Attorney General Liz Murrill, has been pushing for the resumption of executions, illustrating a shift in the state’s legal approach towards capital punishment driven by the desire to serve justice for victims’ families. Murrill noted that the legal battles surrounding executions have prolonged the suffering for victims’ families, reiterating, “In Louisiana, we will always prioritize victims over criminals.”
The execution of Jessie Hoffman stands as a stark reminder of the ongoing debates surrounding the death penalty, particularly regarding its methods and implications on human rights. As more states examine nitrogen gas as a viable execution method, Louisiana’s latest case may further fuel discussions about ethical justice and the future of capital punishment in America.
