Missouri Governor Halts Execution

06:27

October 18, 2013

A picture of propofol in the possession of the Mo. Dept. of Corrections. Hospira, the manufacturer, says it was sold by an unauthorized dealer. (Mo. Dept of Corrections via sunshine request/St. Louis Public Radio)

Last week, Missouri’s governor, Jay Nixon — a Democrat and staunch supporter of the death penalty — put the execution of Allen Nicklasson on hold.

The Department of Corrections in Missouri was planning to use the common anesthetic propofol to carry out the lethal injection.

Propofol's European manufacturer is opposed to using its drug in carrying out capital punishment, and has prohibited its American distributors from selling the drug to departments of correction.

However, the Department of Corrections in Missouri has domestically-produced propofol in its inventory. There are questions about how the drug was obtained.

From the Here & Now Contributors Network, Véronique LaCapra and Chris McDaniel of St. Louis Public Radio have this report.

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Véronique LaCapra and Chris McDaniel, reporters for St. Louis Public Radio. LaCapra tweets @KWMUscience.

This segment aired on October 18, 2013.