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Attorneys Say Tennessee May Use Expired Drugs for Execution

5/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

Attorneys for 57-year-old Tony Carruthers claim Tennessee may use expired lethal-injection drugs for his execution Thursday; the state has not confirmed the drugs’ expiration status.
Attorneys asked the Tennessee Department of Correction twice about the drugs and received no answer.
Assistant Attorney General John W. Ayers said the department inventories drug expiration dates.
Federal Public Defender Amy Harwell warned expired drugs could cause a death, citing the Harold Nichols case.

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Story summary

Attorneys for 57-year-old Tony Carruthers claim Tennessee may use expired lethal-injection drugs for his execution Thursday; the state has not confirmed the drugs’ expiration status.
Attorneys asked the Tennessee Department of Correction twice about the drugs and received no answer.
Assistant Attorney General John W. Ayers said the department inventories drug expiration dates.
Federal Public Defender Amy Harwell warned expired drugs could cause a death, citing the Harold Nichols case.