Reverend Jeff Hood has become an unlikely crusader against one of America's darkest execution methods. His witness testimony could reshape legal challenges to the practice.
The spiritual adviser counsels death row inmates. He stood present for Kenneth Smith's execution by nitrogen gas in January 2024—America's first nitrogen execution. Smith's face twitched violently for eight agonizing minutes. Hood described it as watching "a million ants crawling under his skin."
"When I first got in touch with Kenny, he made me promise to tell the world his story," Hood told Rolling Stone. "I was the first person to tell the world what had just happened."
Hood's advocacy may be yielding results. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling blocking one Alabama inmate's nitrogen execution on grounds that the method constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Jeffrey Lee, scheduled for execution on July 11 for a 1998 double murder, successfully challenged the procedure—a form of asphyxiation that has led to some inmates dying slow, painful deaths despite claims of being more humane.
The precedent could effectively prevent nitrogen executions in Alabama and beyond. Five states currently allow the method, and eight people have been executed this way so far—seven in Alabama alone.
Hood became a spiritual adviser in 2022 after the Supreme Court ruled inmates could have such support during executions. He was present for Anthony Boyd's execution in October 2025, which lasted 18 minutes. "You feel like dog shit sitting there, trying to pray and endure this," Hood recalled. "And you know that you're one step away from ripping off that mask."
What began as a promise to Kenneth Smith has become a movement. Hood's willingness to speak out has exposed a practice many did not know existed.
