Idaho Serial Killer's Execution Suddenly Halted

The execution of Idaho serial killer Thomas Creech, 73, was called off this morning when prison officials were unable to find a vein for a lethal injection, according to state officials.

Officials postponed the execution at 10:58, according to the Idaho Stateman's Kevin Fixler. His death warrant expired at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.

In a statement provided to Newsweek by the Idaho Department of Corrections, Director Josh Tewalt said that while the execution failed "the process worked as intended."

"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," Tewalt said.

He added: "Some are characterizing today's events as a failure, but the opposite is true. 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 Context

Creech was imprisoned in 1974 and has been convicted of five murders in three states and possibly many more, according to the Associated Press.

He is the state's longest-serving death row prisoner. Three of the five murders occurred between 1974 and 1981 in Idaho. He was found guilty of the November 1974 shooting deaths of Edward T. Arnold, 34, and John W. Bradford, 40, in Valley County.

Creech was later convicted of killing one man in Oregon and another in California. He reportedly said under oath that he killed as many as 42 individuals by the time he was 24 years of age.

He was serving a life sentence at the time he beat to death a fellow inmate, David Dale Jensen, 22, in 1981. Creech was supposed to be executed today for that crime.

Earlier this month, the Idaho Supreme Court denied Creech's attorneys' request for a stay—arguing that their client's constitutional rights expressed in their client's two appeals, along with the complexities of the cases and a plain reading of state law, should exonerate him from death, according to East Idaho News.

What We Know

Fixler said that Creech's attempted execution began at 10 a.m. and was called off just before 11 a.m., referencing media witnesses. Six Idaho officials, including Attorney General Raul Labrador, and four news media representatives including an Associated Press reporter, were witnesses to the delayed execution.

"At approximately 11 a.m., (Idaho Department of Corrections) Director (Josh) Tewalt, after consulting with the medical team leader, determined that the medical team could not establish an IV line, rendering the execution unable to proceed," the department told the Idaho Statesman in an email.

Tewalt, the prison system's director since December 2018, was scheduled to speak at a noon news conference, Fixler said.

Views

Creech's attorneys, part of the Federal Defenders of Idaho, issued a statement following the situation.

"We are angered but not surprised that the State of Idaho botched the execution of Thomas Creech today," the statement reads in part. "This is what happens when unknown individuals with unknown training are assigned to carry out an execution."

They claimed that state officials attempted to find Creech's vein 10 different times in both his arms and legs and "failed," also referring to Creech as "a harmless old man...who by this point has surely suffered enough."

About two dozen anti-capital punishment demonstrators gathered outside the state prison complex prior to Creech's execution, according to Fixler.

Abraham Bonowitz, executive director of Death Penalty Action, told Newsweek that the incident involving Creech exemplifies the "circus" associated with the death penalty. His group advocates against the death penalty.

"The circus of Idaho's death penalty just got even more outrageous," Bonowitz said via email. "Millions of Idahoans tax dollars have been wasted this week trying to execute a 73-year-old man.

"A sentence of death by incarceration will keep Idahoans safe while holding murderers severely accountable. We know this because it is what we do in the vast majority of cases. Idaho's legislature should pass emergency legislation to abolish the death penalty in the current session."

Catholic Mobilizing Network, another anti-death penalty group, echoed the sentiment on X, formerly Twitter.

"God of life, we are abundantly grateful that #ThomasCreech is still alive today," the post said. "At the same time, we lament the trauma he was just forced to endure as the state tried—and failed—to take his life. This is yet another reminder that capital punishment is a fallible system."

What's Next

The Idaho Department of Corrections said following the failed execution that Creech was returned to his cell and witnesses were escorted out.

"As a result, the death warrant will expire," they said in a statement. "The state will consider next steps."

Tewalt, in the statement shared with Newsweek, said that some have suggested employing a firing squad to kill Creech. He said his department has been working with other local officials and experts to accommodate a firing squad, though experts remain hesitant to participate.

"[Wednesday's] events require careful consideration, and we'll be meeting with a host of stakeholders in the days ahead to determine the next steps," Tewalt said. "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."

Update 2/29/24, 1:15 p.m. ET: This article was updated with a statement from the Idaho Department of Corrections.