Atmore, AL – Yesterday evening, Alan Eugene Miller was executed at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama, for the 1999 murders of his co-workers, Lee Michael Holdbrooks, Terry Lee Jarvis, and Christopher Scott Yancy. Miller’s death sentence, imposed after he was convicted of capital murder, was carried out through nitrogen hypoxia, a method of execution made available in Alabama since 2018.
Earlier in the day, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declined to exercise her clemency powers, directing Corrections Commissioner John Hamm to proceed with the execution. Governor Ivey issued a statement following the execution, stating, “Justice was finally served for these three victims through the execution method elected by the inmate. His acts were not that of insanity, but pure evil. Three families were forever changed by his heinous crimes, and I pray that they can find comfort all these years later.”
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall also remarked on the execution, describing it as the conclusion of two decades of legal processes following a “depraved murder spree.” Marshall expressed hope that the families of the victims could now find some measure of peace and closure.
Miller was convicted for the August 5, 1999, murders in Pelham, Alabama. Angered over what he believed were rumors spread about him, Miller went on a shooting rampage across two workplaces, killing three men. Lee Holdbrooks and Christopher Yancy were shot at their workplace, Ferguson Enterprises, while Terry Jarvis was killed at Miller’s former workplace, Post Airgas. The victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds in what prosecutors described as particularly cruel killings. After his arrest, Miller confessed that he felt relief after carrying out the murders.
Miller had selected nitrogen hypoxia as his method of execution, a choice made available to death row inmates in Alabama following a law change in 2018. Nitrogen hypoxia was previously used earlier this year for the execution of Kenneth Smith. Miller initially challenged the method in court but eventually settled with the state, dropping his suit.
Despite opposition and misinformation campaigns surrounding the use of nitrogen hypoxia, Alabama officials described the execution as humane and effective. The execution was cleared to proceed at 6:16 p.m., and Miller was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m., following slight movements and agonal breaths as he lost consciousness.
The execution marks the continuation of Alabama’s approach to capital punishment for particularly heinous crimes, with officials emphasizing that some acts warrant the ultimate punishment.
