Idaho Halts Lethal-Injection Execution Of Serial Killer Thomas Eugene Creech After 8 Failed Attempts To Insert An IV Into Him

Authorities In Idaho halted the lethal injection of the serial killer Thomas Eugene Creech after a medical team failed eight times trying to insert an IV into him.

According to the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, Creech has been incarcerated since 1974 for murdering three people in Idaho, one in California and another in Oregon. He was sentenced to death for murdering fellow inmate David Dale Jenson in 1981.

Josh Tewalt, the director of the Idaho Department of Correction, stated that, on February 28, the convicted serial killer had been brought into the execution chamber and strapped down.

“The team attempted eight times, through multiple limbs and appendages, to establish IV access,” Tewalt said during a news conference.

Witnesses noted that the medical team first tried Creech’s right arm, then his right hand before moving on to his left arm and then to his left leg. However, those attempts ended up being unsuccessful and the execution was called off.

“Hi all – Preparing for an execution requires a significant amount of time, energy and effort from a host of partners and staff,” Tewalt stated in a message to the staff. “I’m thankful for the support we received from the Idaho State Police and the Ada County Sheriff’s office. I’m proud of the staff who helped the work of our agency continue with minimal disruption, and I’m grateful for the staff who were part of incident command to plan a major event.”

“While the execution of Thomas Eugene Creech did not proceed, the process worked as intended,” he claimed. “Our medical team experienced difficulty establishing an IV site of sufficient quality to carry out the execution by lethal injection. It’s a scenario for which we trained and prepared, and I made the decision to stand down the execution based on the professional advice of our medical team. It was the right decision.”

“Some are characterizing today’s events as a failure, but the opposite is true,” he went on to argue. “The process worked to prevent a failure, and I think that’s an important distinction. I’m sure some will question or disagree with the decision not to proceed, but I’m confident my decision won’t be criticized by anyone who would have to live with the consequences of getting it wrong.”

“The death warrant will be allowed to expire,” the IDOC director confirmed. “Our staff and medical team conducted themselves with the utmost professionalism and infused this difficult process with dignity and respect.”

“The inability to establish appropriate IV access has prompted questions about a firing squad as a secondary method of execution,” Tewalt admitted. “Let me explain where we are with that process and some of the complexities. We’ve been working with the Division of Public Works to retain the expertise necessary to retrofit F Block, our current execution chamber, and accommodate a firing squad. Those initial efforts were unsuccessful because contractors who would engage in this type of work have expressed their unwillingness to work on a project related to executions, but efforts are ongoing.”

“Securing chemicals for lethal injection created a decision point in how to sequence potential construction in F Block,” he then shared. “Once construction commences, it impedes the state’s ability to carry out the death penalty by any means until construction is complete.  Since we have the means for lethal injection and anticipated a death warrant, we chose not to render F Block inoperable.”

“Today’s events require careful consideration, and we’ll be meeting with a host of stakeholders in the days ahead to determine the next steps,” he continued. “It’s important to be mindful of the impact on Mr. Creech’s victims’ families. I can’t speak to what constitutes justice from their perspective, but I can’t imagine that continued stories help them find the peace and comfort they deserve. Thank you again for your continued professionalism.”

On the morning of February 28, the U.S. Supreme Court denied each of Creech’s three remaining appeals, which were the final hurdles to his lethal injection. Each appeal argued that his execution would violate his constitutional rights.

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Elena Kagan denied each of Creech’s requests for a stay of execution.

In a statement, the Idaho chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union called on authorities to call off any more attempts at Creech’s execution and pointed out the lack of transparency in acquiring drugs for it.