Brian Dorsey, a Missouri man convicted of killing his cousin and her husband almost two decades ago, is facing execution with the U.S. Supreme Court being his last hope for relief. Despite a clemency request being rejected by Gov. Mike Parson, two appeals are still pending before the Supreme Court, with one focusing on Dorsey’s good behavior in prison and the other on the conflict of interest involving his trial lawyers. Dorsey pleaded guilty without any agreement from prosecutors to spare him from the death penalty.
Scheduled for execution in Missouri, Dorsey would be the first person put to death in the state this year, following four executions in 2023. Another man, David Hosier, is also scheduled for execution in June for a separate murder case. Nationally, four men have been executed in 2024 across different states. Dorsey was convicted of killing his cousin Sarah and her husband Ben Bonnie in 2006, after seeking money from them earlier that day to pay off drug dealers. He went to their home, murdered them, and stole items to pay his debt.
Dorsey’s attorneys claim that he suffered from drug-induced psychosis at the time of the crime but has since rehabilitated in prison. Despite support from corrections officers and even a former Missouri Supreme Court justice, his execution is still pending. Concerns have been raised about Missouri’s execution protocol, particularly with Dorsey’s health conditions that may make it difficult to find a suitable vein for lethal injection. A federal lawsuit argued that the lack of anesthetics during the procedure could impede Dorsey’s right to religious freedom.
A settlement was reached in which the state agreed to take unspecified steps to limit the risk of extreme pain during the execution process. However, the specific changes, including the availability of anesthetics, were not disclosed. The use of a cutdown procedure, involving an incision to find a suitable vein, may be necessary in Dorsey’s case due to his health issues. The settlement aimed to address concerns about potential pain and lack of religious access during the execution. Dorsey’s impending execution has drawn attention to the flaws in Missouri’s execution process and the ethical considerations surrounding his case.
