Medical examiner: Electrocuted inmate suffered minor burns

A former U.S. soldier and convicted child killer suffered minor burns on his head and legs during his execution by electric chair, according to the state's medical examiner.

The cause of death early Wednesday was high voltage electrocution, Dr. Bruce Levy said. The burns were consistent with those in routine electrocutions, and there was nothing unusual about his autopsy.

Daryl Holton was convicted of killing his three sons and their half-sister with an assault rifle in 1997, and was the first inmate executed in the electric chair in Tennessee since 1960.

Holton chose electrocution over the state's preferred method of lethal injection. Under Tennessee law, death row inmates can choose between the two modes of execution if their crimes were committed before 1999.

Levy said that the autopsy showed no signs of severe burning of the skin, disfigurement or other major injuries that have happened at some electrocutions.

"The electricity generates a lot of heat, and there can be very significant burns at the site of skin contact," Levy said. "Because they were using sponges soaked in saline, there was first- to low-level second-degree burns, similar to what you see with a severe sunburn."

The Tennessee Department of Corrections execution manual says that the electric chair delivers 1,750 volts of electricity at 7 amps at contact points at the head and ankles through sponges soaked in saline.

A black shroud was placed over Holton's head and a cable was connected to the bottom of the chair shortly before 20-second shock was administered early Wednesday. Holton's back straightened and his hips moved up out of the chair before he slumped back.

After a 15-second pause, Holton was given a second shock that lasted 15 seconds. He was pronounced dead at 1:25 a.m.

Levy said inmates can also suffer broken bones when the muscles clench violently during the shock. But Holton had no broken bones, Levy said.

Levy is waiting on additional blood tests to determine if Holton was sedated before the execution as some witnesses suggested.

Before his execution, warden Ricky Bell asked Holton if he had any final words. Holton mumbled inaudibly. Bell asked him to repeat what he said and he replied, "Two words: I do."

Dorinda Carter, spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections, said Holton started to hyperventilate before entering the execution chamber and was given time to calm down.

Hours before Holton's execution, the Tennessee Supreme Court rejected a petition by about 80 Tennessee lawyers claiming that death by electrocution should be declared unconstitutional because it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.