Three U.S. States Carry Out Executions on the Same Day for First Time Since 2010

Important Point: On a single Thursday, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Alabama each executed one man by lethal injection. This marked the first time since January 7, 2010, that three executions happened in the United States on the same day.

What Happened?

Three men were put to death within hours of each other:

• Tennessee and Oklahoma carried out their executions within 30 minutes of each other.
• Alabama followed hours later.
• Officials say the timing was a coincidence in scheduling.

Why Is This a Big Deal?

• Rare occurrence: The last time three states executed inmates on the same day was January 7, 2010 (Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas).
• Near miss in 2018: Three executions were scheduled for the same day, but only one went forward. A Texas inmate was reprieved, and Alabama had problems with the IV line.
• Rising trend: The U.S. has seen an increase in executions lately.
  • 47 people were executed in 2025 across 11 states — the highest number since 2009.
  • 22 executions have taken place so far this year.
  • Nearly a dozen more are already scheduled.
• Florida executed two men on the same day in July and has carried out 31 executions total since the start of 2025.

The Three Cases Explained

1. Oklahoma: Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez

• Age: 70
• Crime: Shot and killed his girlfriend, Olimpia Fisher (43), at their Oklahoma City home in 2003. She was planning to leave him.
• Execution details:
  • Received lethal injection at the state penitentiary in McAlester.
  • This was Oklahoma’s third execution this year.
  • Turned to two relatives watching and mouthed “I love you.”
  • Had no final statement.
  • Declared dead after several minutes of labored breathing.
• Remorse: Cuesta-Rodriguez told a clemency board he regretted the killing and did not want clemency (a reduction of his sentence).
• Victim’s family: Fisher’s daughters, Cinthya Allen and Katya Wallis, said they hope the execution brings awareness to preventing domestic violence. They are “raising our families to reflect the love and faith in God that she taught us.”

2. Tennessee: Anthony Darrell Hines

• Age: 66
• Crime: Stabbed Catherine Jean Jenkins (54) to death in 1985 while she worked as a motel maid in Kingston Springs.
• Execution details:
  • Said “not right now, thank you” when asked for final words, then added: “Tell my son hello.”
  • His son witnessed the execution — they had reconnected four days earlier after not seeing each other since the son was 3 years old.
  • Minutes after the curtain opened, Hines asked his spiritual adviser: “How long do I have?”
  • Witnesses heard groans and heavy breathing while the adviser prayed with her hands on his shoulders.
  • Pronounced dead at 10:43 a.m.
• Legal challenge: Hines appealed, arguing the doctor who oversaw a botched execution in May (the Carruthers case, where staff couldn’t establish a backup IV line for over an hour) was unqualified and might botch his execution too. The appeal failed.
• Victim’s son: Dennis Jenkins said his mother had only a plastic spray bottle to defend herself against Hines’ knife. He added: “I hope he felt severe pain because what he did to my mother is nothing compared to what he may have just gone through.”

3. Alabama: Jeremy Williams

• Age: 42
• Crime: Raped and strangled 5-year-old Kamarie Holland in 2021.
  • Offered the girl’s mother $2,500 for the child to perform a sex act (prosecutors say he did not actually pay).
  • Filmed the attack.
  • Pleaded guilty.
• Execution details:
  • Said on the gurney: “I want to thank God for forgiving me for my sins so I can meet him in peace.”
  • Rocked his head, smiled, appeared to sing or speak, then became still.
  • A family member cried quietly throughout.
  • Pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m.
• Why he wanted it done quickly: Williams wrote to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office asking for an immediate execution date so the victim’s family “may have some type of closure.”
• Officials’ take:
  • Gov. Kay Ivey: “The unspeakable nature of this crime is exactly why we have the death penalty statute.”
  • DA Richard Chancey: Called Kamarie’s final moments “horrific.” Noted: “That baby didn’t die in peace.”
  • Sheriff Heath Taylor (39 years in law enforcement): Called it the worst case he’d ever investigated. Believed Williams wanted swift execution because “he didn’t want to look over his shoulder for 30 years” in prison.
• Other details:
  • The mother is serving a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty to sex trafficking.
  • Williams was also a suspect in the 2005 death of his infant daughter in Alaska; charges weren’t filed until 2022.
  • This was Alabama’s first execution this year.
  • A planned nitrogen gas execution was blocked in June after a federal judge ruled the method unconstitutional.
• Victim’s father: Corey Holland described Kamarie as an exuberant child who loved princesses, dress-up, and Halloween costumes, and who “made people laugh.”

Important Corrections from the Original Report

Callout: The story was updated to correct two errors:

1. The Alabama man offered to pay the mother, but did not actually do so.
2. The Russell County Sheriff is Heath Taylor, not Heather Taylor.

Summary

• Three executions in one day — Tennessee, Oklahoma, Alabama — first time since 2010.
• All three men were killed by lethal injection.
• The cases involved:
  • A domestic violence murder from 2003 (Oklahoma).
  • A motel maid stabbed in 1985 (Tennessee).
  • The rape and murder of a 5-year-old in 2021 (Alabama).
• The U.S. is seeing a rise in executions: 47 in 2025, 22 so far this year, more scheduled.
• Each case had unique circumstances: remorse, legal challenges, family reunions, and debates over closure vs. cruelty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How common is it for three states to execute someone on the same day?

It’s very rare. Before this Thursday, the last time it happened was January 7, 2010. In 2018, three were scheduled but only one proceeded.

2. Why are executions increasing in the U.S.?

The article notes a trend but doesn’t give a single reason. Factors may include cleared legal challenges, changes in drug protocols, and political support for the death penalty in certain states.

3. What is “clemency,” and why did the Oklahoma inmate refuse it?

Clemency is when a governor or board reduces a death sentence (usually to life in prison). Cuesta-Rodriguez said he regretted his crime and didn’t want clemency — he accepted the execution.

4. What happened in the Tennessee “botched execution” mentioned in the article?

In May, the execution of another man (Carruthers) was stopped after staff couldn’t establish a backup IV line for over an hour. Hines argued the same doctor shouldn’t oversee his execution.

5. Why did the Alabama inmate want to be executed quickly?

Jeremy Williams wrote to officials asking for a fast execution date so the victim’s family could get closure. Officials also believe he feared decades in prison and how he’d be treated there.

This article is based on reporting from the Associated Press. All details preserved from the original source.