Michigan Man Put to Death in Alabama Using Controversial Method

Demetrius Frazier's path to Alabama's execution chamber began over 30 years ago in Michigan, where he was convicted of multiple violent crimes. In the early 1990s, NPR reports Frazier was found guilty of a series of armed robberies and murders in Detroit. His crimes didn't stop at the state line, and years later, he was sent to Alabama, where he was executed for his crimes on February 6, 2025.

Michigan Inmate Found Guilty of Murder in Alabama

According to CNN, while serving his time in Michigan, Frazier would be linked to the 1991 murder in Alabama. Michigan authorities sent him there for a trial, where he was convicted of raping and murdering Pauline Brown.

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Alabama, if you're unaware, has very strict sentencing laws, and therefore Frazier was sentenced to death. But, he was technically still under Michigan's jurisdiction, so his execution was held up for many years.

How Michigan Allowed Alabama to Execute Frazier

Michigan hasn't had the death penalty since 1847, and yet, a 2011 agreement between then-Governors Rick Snyder of Michigan and Robert Bentley of Alabama allowed the southern state to retain custody and carry out Frazier's sentence.

RELATED: Michigan's Last Execution: Historical Shift From Death to Life

WVTM reports that Frazier and his family pleaded with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to reverse the decision several times, but they didn't get the answers they were looking for.

Execution by Nitrogen Hypoxia

On February 6th, 2025, Frazier became the fourth person in American history to be executed via nitrogen hypoxia, a method USA Today calls controversial, that replaces breathable air with pure nitrogen. Witnesses reported that Frazier took deep, gasping breaths before losing consciousness. His execution took 13 minutes once the nitrogen mask was put on.

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In his final words, Frazier apologized to Brown's family, pledged his love for everyone on Death Row, and ended with "Detroit Strong."