Tony Carruthers, a Memphis man on death row, is experiencing mental and physical health complications after the Tennessee Department of Corrections botched its lethal injection attempt, Carruthers’ family and attorneys told MLK50: Justice Through Journalism.
“I think he is still in trauma,” said a member of Carruthers’ family. “He’s not communicating like he used to. He’s still struggling to walk and can’t use his right hand.” MLK50 agreed to the source’s request not to be named while the family continues to process Carruthers’ current health status.
TDOC tried to execute Carruthers on May 21, but medical staff could not find a suitable vein to complete the lethal injection procedure. Gov. Bill Lee canceled the execution after medical staff spent more than an hour trying to insert IV lines in various places in Carruthers’ body — including his arms, feet, neck, chest and shoulder area…