Lockett, 38, died of an apparent heart attack minutes after the lethal injection protocol failed. He was convicted of shooting 19-year-old Stephanie Nieman in 1999 and then helping to bury her alive in a shallow grave, where she died.
Witnesses to the execution said Lockett clenched his jaw and fists a few minutes after the drugs were injected and appeared to be in pain. Prison officials covered the windows to the death chamber soon after as it became apparent there was trouble.
The doctor overseeing the execution reported that Lockett’s vein had collapsed during the injection and the drugs had either absorbed into the tissue, or leaked out or both, Patton said.
Patton asked if enough drugs been administered to cause death, and the doctor answered “no.” Patton then asked if another vein was available and if enough drugs remained to finish the execution. The doctor responded “no” to both questions.