The State of Alabama executed Gregory Hunt by nitrogen hypoxia Tuesday night at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.
Hunt received a death sentence for the 1998 capital murder of Karen Lane.
“Tonight, we pause to reflect on a long-overdue moment of justice for Karen Sanders Lane and for the family that has carried the weight of her loss for thirty-five years," Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement after the execution. "Karen was a young woman whose life was stolen in the most brutal and dehumanizing way imaginable. Gregory Hunt spent more time on death row than Karen spent alive. If he had any real evidence of innocence, he had more than three decades to present it. He did not. What he and his supporters offered instead was a last-minute spectacle aimed at rewriting history and distracting from the truth.
"My team never gave up. Karen deserves more than silence. She deserves to be remembered for who she was, and yet some have made this case about her killer, barely mentioning her name. That is not justice. That is a disgrace. Karen Lane was a daughter and a sister. She was a human being. And tonight, we honor her by speaking the truth and by refusing to let it be buried under political theater.”
Tuesday’s execution was the fifth time Alabama successfully used nitrogen hypoxia as the method of execution.
Hunt’s time of death was 6:26 p.m.
“Decades ago, Karen Lane at only 32 years old experienced unimaginable final hours of her young life. Tonight, the state carried out the lawfully imposed punishment for Gregory Hunt, who is undeniably guilty. And after his last-minute attempts to evade justice, he has faced the consequences of his evil crimes against Karen Lane, actions he has admitted to, even in a letter to the victim’s heartbroken father. Alabama stands with Karen Lane, and we pray her loved ones can finally find peace and closure,” Governor Kay Ivey said in a statement.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
