For a prisoner, being on death row is like hitting rock bottom. The death sentence is the harshest legal penalty, and it’s used for only the absolute worst of crimes. Its reputation in recent years has been worsened by the lengthy gap between sentencing and execution. It’s not uncommon for prisoners on death row to wait eighteen years for their execution. Many older inmates die of natural causes before their execution even takes place. For others, the psychological effects of being forced to wait for their own deaths can even lead to suicide. On the other hand, some prisoners attempt to reform themselves while on death row, only for the same fate to await them. Such was the case with Gregory Hunt.

Hunt was convicted in 1990 for the murder, robbery, and alleged sexual abuse of Karen Lane in Walker County, Alabama, in 1988. In an 11-1 vote, his jury recommended the death penalty. Hunt made multiple appeals to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals since his conviction, but none were successful. He admitted to murdering and robbing Lane, but denied the sexual abuse allegations and insisted that the death penalty was not an appropriate punishment. However, the Alabama Attorney General’s office argued that there was enough evidence of sexual assault.

In the years leading up to his execution set for 2025, Hunt had since formed a ministry within Holman Prison in Atmore, Alabama. Other death row inmates looked to Hunt for spiritual guidance and support. A petition by the Execution Intervention Project and Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty was delivered to Governor Kay Ivey with more than 2,190 signatures. It urged her to halt Hunt’s execution, highlighting his personal transformation while imprisoned and the critical role he played in the spiritual well-being of fellow inmates. The petition said that as a spiritual counselor, Hunt’s execution would deprive death row inmates of their pastor.

On June 10, 2025, Hunt was executed by nitrogen gas asphyxiation. His is the third execution in Alabama of this year and the 23rd under Governor Ivey. He lived to 65 years old. 35 of these years-more than half his life-was spent on death row. That alone was longer than the lifetime of his victim, Karen Lane. After his execution, Governor Ivey reiterated that his death sentence was lawfully imposed and that he was “undeniably guilty” of his crimes. Lane’s headstone was inscribed with the statement, “Crime will not decrease until being a criminal becomes more dangerous than being a victim.”

Hunt’s execution and the points raised in the months leading up to it bring up many questions about the effectiveness of Alabama’s death penalty policies. First, the method of execution is controversial. Until recently, nitrogen gas had never been used in executions. The first execution by nitrogen in the world was as recent as 2024, when Alabama executed Kenny Smith. Because the effects and risks associated with nitrogen execution have not been studied to the same extent as other execution methods, critics say that it is still in its experimental phase. They also cite how nitrogen is not recommended for euthanizing most mammals because of its distressing side effects. 

Another lament is how Alabama allows a non-unanimous jury to hand down a death sentence. While most states require a jury to unanimously vote for it, Alabama and Florida are the only states that allow it to be granted with a minimum of ten votes. This has also invited criticism. In 2023, Representative Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, brought attention to the fact that jury unanimity is required for handing down a guilty verdict, but not for a death sentence. In theory, this makes it mathematically easier for a jury to condemn someone to death than it is for a jury to find someone guilty of any crime.

Third, there is an argument that Hunt received inadequate legal representation. Critics point to Alabama’s limited funding for capital defense attorneys as a possible explanation for why Hunt received a death penalty. With a stronger defense team, they argue that his traumatic upbringing could have been used to get a more favorable outcome with the jury.

Hunt’s execution presents several conflicting takeaways. The death row inmates have lost someone who was important to them and who brought meaning into their lives. This is unfortunate, but this role can be fulfilled by prison chaplains, who can offer the same kind of spiritual guidance and comfort that Hunt offered. The ethics of nitrogen gas execution are questionable. It is alarming that even veterinarians discourage using this method on animals. Further testing its side effects should continue before it becomes a mainstay execution method. 

It is unclear whether the jury would’ve handed down a more favorable verdict if Hunt’s upbringing was disclosed. But the fact their vote for a death sentence was not unanimous is another cause for concern. Rep. England’s point about how a unanimous vote is needed for a guilty verdict but not a death sentence should serve as a wake-up call. 

It is expected for groups like Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty to oppose Hunt’s execution. After all, many oppose the idea of capital punishment in general. But even those in favor of retaining it should be made aware of how it works in their state. This includes how long an inmate can expect to wait before his execution is carried out.