Tennessee Execution Sparks Controversy Over Inmate’s Implanted Heart Device
Tennessee Execution Sparks Controversy Over Inmate’s Implanted Heart Device Byron Black was executed by the state of Tennessee on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, amidst significant controversy regarding his implanted heart defibrillator and subsequent claims of pain. Witnesses reported Black experiencing discomfort shortly after the lethal injection began, a detail his attorneys quickly highlighted as evidence of a problematic execution. Black, 69, died at 10:43 a.m. CT, approximately 10 minutes after the procedure commenced. Media witnesses observed Black sighing, breathing heavily,…