An Alabama death row inmate, who claims his innocence, has reached out to Governor Kay Ivey, requesting a meeting before his scheduled execution later this week. Anthony Boyd, 53, is set to face execution by nitrogen gas on Thursday evening at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility for the 1993 capital murder of Gregory Huguley.
Boyd, who has consistently proclaimed his innocence, issued his appeal to the governor through a recorded message. This message was broadcast during a news conference organized by the Execution Intervention Project and his spiritual adviser, Rev. Jeff Hood.
“Before executing an innocent man, I urge you to meet with me and discuss the situation with someone you’ve classified as among the worst,” Boyd stated in his plea.
The Alabama Department of Corrections has confirmed Boyd’s execution is scheduled for Thursday evening. Boyd was convicted of capital murder in connection with a kidnapping incident.
In his message, Boyd further offered that if Governor Ivey concludes he is being dishonest or evasive during their conversation, she should proceed with the execution.
However, Boyd said if Ivey believes he is being deceptive or evasive during their meeting, “then please carry out the sentence.”
“If not, then I ask you to stay this execution, to stop this execution, to have my case fully and fairly investigated,” Boyd said.
A spokesman for Ivey, Mike Lewis, said the governor personally reviews each case in which an execution has been scheduled.
“At this point, however, we have not seen any recent court filings disputing Mr. Boyd’s guilt in the horrific, burning-alive murder of Gregory Huguley. Nor have we received a clemency submission to such an effect,” Lewis said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Lewis noted that the governor’s review of execution cases does not include one-on-one meetings with inmates, describing Boyd’s abnormal request as “especially unworkable.”
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has stopped just one execution since she took office in 2017. (AP Photo/Julie Bennett)
Ivey has only stopped one execution since she took office in 2017.
Huguley’s body was found burned on Aug. 1, 1993, in a rural Talladega County ball field. Prosecutors said Boyd was one of four men who kidnapped Huguley the previous day.
A witness for the prosecution testified at the trial as part of a plea agreement, saying that Boyd taped Huguley’s feet together before another man poured gasoline on him and lit him on fire.
Prosecutors said Huguley was burned alive over a $200 drug debt.
Though Boyd’s attorneys contended that he was attending a party when the crime was carried out, a jury voted 10-2 to convict him of capital murder during a kidnapping. They recommended that he be sentenced to death.
Anthony Boyd is set to be executed by nitrogen gas at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. (AP)
Boyd is set to die by nitrogen gas, a controversial method Alabama began using last year when convicted killer Kenneth Smith was executed in January 2024.
Attorneys for Boyd have called on the federal courts to block the execution to scrutinize the new method, a request a federal judge denied.
On Monday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a request by Boyd’s attorneys to stay the execution.
Shawn Ingram, the man accused of pouring gasoline on Huguley and setting him on fire, was also convicted of capital murder and remains on death row in Alabama.
