ORLANDO, Fla. — After being convicted in the murder of 83-year-old Elena Ortega, Juan Rosario may face the death penalty when he is sentenced in May.
Florida’s main method of execution is via lethal injection, though death-row inmates can still choose the electric chair.
Lethal injection has been widely discussed recently as the state of Arkansas has hurried to execute death-row inmates before the expiration of one of the drugs used in the procedure.
Arkansas, as with Florida and every other state that executes inmates via lethal injection, cannot purchase more of the drug because there are no FDA-approved manufacturers that will sell it for use in executions.
If Rosario is sentenced to death, he would join 371 other inmates already on death row in Florida.
To execute prisoners, Florida uses a three-drug cocktail that renders the inmate unconscious, paralyzes him or her, and then stops their heart.
Four syringes containing 100mg each are prepared for use in the execution. Two are used during the lethal injection and the other two are prepared as a backup.
The executioner injects the drug into the inmate one syringe at a time and then injects 20ml of a saline solution to ensure all of the etomidate enters his or her veins.
The prison warden will then determine if the inmate is unconscious and, if so, orders the next drug be administered.
Four syringes containing 500mg each are prepared for use in the execution. Two are used during the lethal injection and the other two are prepared as a backup.
The executioner injects the drug into the inmate one syringe at a time and then injects 20ml of a saline solution to ensure all of the rocuronium bromide enters his or her veins.
Once this is complete, the third drug is administered.
Four syringes containing 120mEq each are prepared for use in the execution. Two are used during the lethal injection and the other two are prepared as a backup.
The executioner injects the drug into the inmate one syringe at a time.
Throughout the procedure, a member of the execution team will watch a heart monitor attached to the inmate. Once he or she registers a flat-line reading, a physician will examine the inmate and declare them deceased.
Florida open records laws keep the source of the chemicals used in executions confidential, so there is no way to know where the FDOC gets the drugs.
State officials also do not release information on how much of the drugs they have or how long it will be until they expire.
Cox Media Group
