Very disturbing and gruesome news out of Oklahoma tonight. Okla. killer dies after botched execution:
An Oklahoma death row inmate died of a heart attack Tuesday night more than 40 minutes after his execution was halted because the lethal injection of three drugs was botched.
The execution of a second convicted murderer was postponed.
Corrections Director Robert Patton halted the execution of Clayton Lockett about 20 minutes after the first drug was administered. He said there was a vein failure that prevented the deadly chemicals from reaching Lockett.
Witnesses said Lockett writhed and convulsed on the gurney, shaking uncontrollably.
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin ordered an investigation into the botched execution and issued a 14-day stay of execution for the second inmate who was scheduled to die.
Acting hours after the execution, Fallin ordered the Department of Corrections to review the state's execution procedures and determine what went wrong.
Patton said Lockett died after receiving all three drugs.
"There was some concern at that time that the drugs were not having that (desired) effect, and the doctor observed the line at that time and determined the line had blown," Patton said at a news conference afterward, referring to Lockett's vein rupturing.
The 38-year-old Lockett, who was convicted of shooting 19-year-old Stephanie Neiman and watching two accomplices bury her alive in 1999, was pronounced dead in the execution chamber at 7:06 p.m. CT.
Rachel Maddow spoke to one of the men's attorneys and they disputed the claim that there was a vein failure.
