A few months ago, an investigative report by 漏 2024 外网天堂 reporter Chris McDaniel revealed the state of Missouri was covertly , and before witnesses were present to provide oversight. That story led to reforms in the state鈥檚 mostly secret execution policies.
Tuesday was McDaniel鈥檚 last day at 漏 2024 外网天堂; he is leaving to pursue other reporting opportunities. Before leaving, he told 鈥淪t. Louis on the Air鈥� host Don Marsh that his story on midazolam use in executions is one that stands out.
鈥淢issouri was using a drug that top government officials swore they wouldn鈥檛 use in executions,鈥� McDaniel said. 鈥淲hat I鈥檓 proud of with that is that after we published there were some reforms. The state said that they would no longer be giving (midazolam) covertly and without the consent of the inmate. And it was something where that information that we revealed was cited by four U.S. Supreme Court justices when there was a stay request before them.鈥�
Missouri is scheduled to . He has appealed his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Storey is being executed for the 1990 murder of a neighbor in St. Charles.
Whether the high court issues a stay in Wednesday鈥檚 execution or not, it will hear a lethal injection case this year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a case brought out of Oklahoma where they had a pretty bad botched execution,鈥� McDaniel said. 鈥淭he concerns with Oklahoma鈥檚 methods are one of the drugs that they鈥檙e using, namely midazolam.鈥�
Where Missouri and Oklahoma are getting the drugs used in executions also has been questioned. The states have kept that information secret. McDaniel also is party to a lawsuit filed against Missouri under the state鈥檚 open records act, .
McDaniel said he plans to continue covering the death penalty, and is interested in investigating other criminal justice issues.
鈥淭here have been a lot of stories that I鈥檝e been wanting to work on in the past year and just have not had the time to do so,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think that there鈥檚 a certain type of reporting that isn鈥檛 being done as much as I would like. That鈥檚 the stuff I would like to be focusing on.鈥�
鈥淪t. Louis on the Air鈥� discusses issues and concerns facing the St. Louis area. The show is produced by and and hosted by veteran journalist . Follow us on Twitter:
