Alabama Set to Execute Geoffrey Todd West with Nitrogen Gas
Geoffrey Todd West, 50, convicted of the 1997 murder of Margaret Parrish Berry during a gas station robbery, is scheduled to be executed by nitrogen gas on Thursday night at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama. This execution has drawn attention due to the unusual method and pleas for clemency.
The Crime and Conviction
Margaret Parrish Berry, a 33-year-old mother of two, was shot and killed at Harold’s Chevron in Etowah County on March 28, 1997. Prosecutors argued that Berry was killed to eliminate any witnesses to the robbery, during which $250 was stolen. West's girlfriend testified against him, receiving a 35-year sentence in exchange. A jury convicted West of capital murder and recommended the death penalty by a 10-2 vote.
A Plea for Forgiveness
Will Berry, Margaret Parrish Berry’s son, has publicly forgiven West and urged Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to commute his sentence to life in prison. Berry believes his mother would have wanted forgiveness and feels that "vengeance isn’t for the state. It’s for the Lord.” He participated in a vigil outside the Alabama Capitol and delivered a petition to Ivey’s office.
Gov. Ivey's Response
Gov. Ivey acknowledged Will Berry’s sentiments in a letter, but affirmed her duty to uphold Alabama law, which "imposes death as punishment for the most egregious forms of murder.” She noted having only commuted one death sentence in her eight years as governor due to questions surrounding the individual's guilt.
The Execution Method: Nitrogen Gas
West’s execution will involve nitrogen gas, a method authorized by Alabama lawmakers in 2018. The process involves administering pure nitrogen gas through a mask, depriving the inmate of oxygen. Nitrogen is naturally abundant in the atmosphere and harmless when mixed with sufficient oxygen. Alabama carried out the nation's first nitrogen gas execution in 2024. Six people have now been executed using nitrogen gas - five in Alabama and one in Louisiana.
West's Remorse
West has expressed deep regret for his actions. "There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t regret it and wish that I could take that back," he stated. He wants to apologize to Berry's family, saying, “I’m so very sorry for the hurt that I’ve caused you all. I’m so very sorry for what I’ve taken away from you, and I hope and pray you forgive me.”
