Brian Steckel
Brian David Steckel was executed by lethal injection in Delaware in November 2005. Reports at the time said the procedure took about 14 minutes and that he was still able to speak during it, asking why it was taking so long. In a 2008 class-action lawsuit, his attorneys, including federal public defender Michael Wiseman, argued that he did not receive adequate anesthesia and that the anesthetic leaked into the tissue around the needle. The Department of Correction disputes these allegations and says there were no technical difficulties, and state officials said the execution went as planned.
Cause of death, as reported: Executed by the state. Attorneys, including federal public defender Michael Wiseman, argued he did not receive adequate anesthesia, and a 2008 class-action lawsuit said the execution was unusually drawn out.
Reported by: Michael Wiseman, federal public defender, and other attorneys for Delaware death row inmates (family or their lawyers); Delaware Department of Correction (the agency that held him).
Custody: Serving a sentence.