'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 • 

Lee Hedgepeth

7

1

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 • 

Lee Hedgepeth

17

3

'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 • 

Lee Hedgepeth

24

1

April 2025

In Alabama, a Volunteer to Die

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

Apr 25 • 

Lee Hedgepeth

30

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

12

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

11

January 2024

‘Never Alone’: The suffocation of Kenneth Eugene Smith

On Thursday, Smith became the first human ever subjected to a nitrogen suffocation execution. Read one reporter’s eyewitness account.

Jan 26, 2024 • 

Lee Hedgepeth

43

2

The humanity of Kenneth Eugene Smith

Alabama will attempt to kill Smith for the second time on Thursday in the nation's first execution by nitrogen suffocation.

Jan 24, 2024 • 

Lee Hedgepeth

17

The future of Tread

Tread began as a platform to publish and promote unflinching journalism from the heart of the U.S South. That mission will not change.

Jan 24, 2024 • 

Lee Hedgepeth

23

September 2023

In the shadow of Brother Bryan

Birmingham city councilors recently discussed individuals facing homelessness in Brother Bryan Park. Here's what those in the park think about the…

Sep 1, 2023 • 

Lee Hedgepeth

9

1

August 2023

Wearing prison guard's uniform, incarcerated Alabama man describes conditions that led to 'security incident'

Chaos, violence, and death.

Aug 13, 2023 • 

Lee Hedgepeth

17

A tree grows in Birmingham

How one Southern community aims to plant its way into the Alabama shade.

Aug 9, 2023 • 

Lee Hedgepeth

7