'I dodged death': Sitting down with Sonny Burton

Prison staff for the State of Alabama were scheduled to suffocate Charles "Sonny" Burton to death. In an in-person interview with Tread, Burton said God…

Mar 18 • Lee Hedgepeth

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Ivey spares life of Sonny Burton

The Alabama governor announced the commutation Tuesday, just two days before Burton's scheduled execution.

Mar 10 • Lee Hedgepeth

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On the advice of Klonsel: A look under the hood of an Alabama injustice

Rocky Myers, a Black man, was sentenced to death after being represented at trial by John Mays, a court-appointed attorney long affiliated with the Ku…

Mar 7 • Lee Hedgepeth

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February 2026

Charles "Sonny" Burton killed no one. Alabama plans to suffocate him anyway.

Jurors, the victim's daughter and Burton's family believe his life should be spared. The state thinks otherwise.

Feb 2 • Lee Hedgepeth

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October 2025

After justices warned of prolonged suffocation, Alabama subjected Anthony Boyd to the longest nitrogen execution in U.S. history.

Boyd was the chairman of Project Hope, a death row-led nonprofit. Its members are left reeling in the wake of their leader's suffocation execution.

Oct 24, 2025 • Lee Hedgepeth

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Hope in the House of Death

Alabama is scheduled to attempt the gas execution of Anthony Boyd. Those living on the state's death row find it hard to anticipate the loss of one of…

Oct 23, 2025 • Lee Hedgepeth

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September 2025

'We Pray He Gains Peace': Over Objection of Victim's Family, Alabama Executes Geoffrey Todd West

Will Berry opposed the execution of his mother's murderer. Alabama suffocated him anyway.

Sep 26, 2025 • Lee Hedgepeth

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Where There's a Will: The Unwanted Execution of Geoffrey West

On Tuesday, Will Berry petitioned Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to spare the life of Geoffrey West, the man convicted of killing his mother when he was 11. The…

Sep 24, 2025 • Lee Hedgepeth

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'Justice Denied' and the Crimson Tide

A condemned man and his victim's son are seeking reconciliation as the state prepares to gas him to death. Alabama has turned them down.

Sep 19, 2025 • Lee Hedgepeth

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April 2025

In Alabama, a Volunteer to Die

James Osgood has been executed by the State of Alabama. Read an eyewitness account.

Apr 25, 2025 • Lee Hedgepeth

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September 2024

'Show Compassion': How the family of Kenneth Smith viewed the nitrogen execution of Alan Miller

Smith was the first person ever put to death by nitrogen suffocation. Miller was the second.

Sep 27, 2024 • Lee Hedgepeth

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May 2024

LISTEN: The sound of solidarity

When Jamie Mills walks Holman's hallways toward Alabama's execution chamber, he won't be alone.

May 30, 2024 • Lee Hedgepeth

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