NASHVILLE, Tenn. — What was supposed to be Tennessee’s first execution in years became a haunting scene instead. On May 21, 2026, the state called off the lethal injection of Tony Von Carruthers, a 57-year-old death row inmate convicted of kidnapping and murdering three people in Memphis in 1994, after medical personnel spent more than an hour unsuccessfully trying to find a vein suitable for the backup IV line required by the state’s execution protocol.
The Tennessee Department of Corrections said personnel had quickly established a primary IV line but were unable to locate a second vein as required under execution rules. Maria DeLiberato, an attorney for Carruthers, was present in the room and described what she witnessed as “horrible,” telling reporters she watched Carruthers “wincing and groaning” as the medical team worked. The execution was ultimately called off and Gov. Bill Lee granted Carruthers a one-year reprieve, stating the state will not attempt the execution again for at least 12 months.
Carruthers had been on death row since 1996. His defense attorneys had repeatedly raised concerns about the fairness of his trial, noting he was forced to represent himself during proceedings. Amnesty International said Carruthers has a “serious mental disability,” a claim the courts rejected in multiple appeals in the lead-up to his scheduled execution.
The aborted execution reignited debate across Tennessee about the state’s lethal injection protocol and has drawn national attention to the question of how execution procedures are reviewed and updated. Critics say the failure to find a vein signals systemic problems with the process itself.
