In a move that puts Michigan's longstanding repudiation of the death penalty to the test, Carol Frazier is urging Governor Gretchen Whitmer to step in and halt the execution of her son, Demetrius Frazier, scheduled for February 6 in Alabama. Demetrius, convicted of multiple violent crimes, including murder, is facing the controversial nitrogen hypoxia execution method, a point of contention for critics who call it inhumane.
In a statement detailed by CBS News Detroit, Carol Frazier expressed her plea to Governor Whitmer, "I love him. I know he made mistakes. He committed to those mistakes." Similarly, the executive director of Death Penalty Action, Abraham Bonowitz, underscored the irreversible nature of the execution, saying, “She is the only person with the power to stop this execution who would be willing to do so.” Michigan abolished the death penalty over half a century ago, which adds a layer of constitutional complexity to Demetrius Frazier's predicament, given his crimes initially led to a life sentence in Michigan before his extradition to Alabama.
Advocates and the inmate's family contend that the interstate agreement for transfer, forged between former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and Alabama officials, violated both Demetrius's due process rights and Michigan law, which requires that inmates serve their sentences within the state. According to Metro Times, Carol Frazier wrote in an emotional letter, “Please do not let Alabama put him to death,” indicating her son's remorse and repentance despite the gravity of his offenses.
In an addendum to the discourse, advocates prong forth arguments about the appropriateness of the execution method. The controversy centers around nitrogen hypoxia, which critics condemn as a painful way to die. Moreover, MLive reported that Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy was not made aware of the 2011 extradition plan at the time, learning of it only recently in the context of this ongoing appeal. Her spokesperson, Maria Miller, stated, "She was (recently) contacted by a lawyer on behalf of the defendant," alluding to a communication gap that could bear weight in the appeal against the execution.
