Reverend offers glimpse into the execution chamber as he bears witness to the death penalty#

"It's like a house of horrors. It's very, very bizarre." — Rev. Jeff Hood

This week, Rev. Jeff Hood entered Missouri's execution chamber to witness the state-sanctioned killing of his friend, David Hosier. What he saw haunted him: a one-way window separated them, unlike any other execution he'd attended. Hood, an anti-death penalty activist, recounted the harrowing experience to USA TODAY.

Hood comforted Hosier in his final moments, reading scripture as the lethal injection of "poison" ended his life. Hood has formed deep connections with those on death row, and the emotional toll is profound: "You feel like a murderer...I sit there and watch someone I love be murdered. In my inaction, I join the team of murderers."

Since 2022, when the Supreme Court ruled that spiritual advisers must be allowed into execution chambers, Hood has made it his mission to be there for the condemned. He's witnessed seven executions, including that of Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was executed via nitrogen gas in Alabama. Reporters and Hood himself described Smith's execution as a "vicious, horrible murder," with Smith convulsing and heaving until he lost consciousness.

The Emotional Toll on Hood

Hood's commitment to his mission is unwavering, despite the personal cost. He's received death threats but is determined to give a voice to those about to be executed, no matter the crime. At Hosier's execution, who was convicted of the 2009 shooting of Angela Gilpin, Hood ensured he felt loved and human. Hosier maintained his innocence, and Hood believed him.

As Hosier faced death, his final words were: "I'm the luckiest man on Earth...I leave you all with love." Hood's presence offered some solace in the darkness.

URL for reference: [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/16/missouri-execution-david-hosier-spiritual-advisor-jeff-hood-witness- speaks/ 1070772001/].