McGuire was still for almost five minutes, then emitted a loud snort, as if snoring, and continued to make that sound over the next several minutes. He also soundlessly opened and shut his mouth several times as his stomach rose and fell.
“Oh my God,” his daughter, Amber McGuire, said as she observed her father’s final moments, the wire service reported.
Bohnert, McGuire’s attorney, said concerns about the manner of death had been confirmed by the sounds and the length of time it took for him to die.
“And more importantly, the people of the state of Ohio should be appalled at what was done here today in their names,” said Bohnert, who did not witness the execution.
The state announced the new method of execution in October and had planned to use it for the execution of Ronald Phillips, 40, who was scheduled to die in November for killing a 3-year-old girl.
However, Gov. John Kasich delayed that execution to allow time to study whether the state could meet Phillips’ request to donate his organs.