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Edmund Zagorski is expected to be executed on Nov. 1
Nashville Tennessean

Edmund Zagorski.(Photo: File photo)

Lawyers have launched a wave of last-minute challenges to Edmund Zagorski’s execution Thursday night, but the state moved forward with its plans to kill him using the electric chair.

Zagorski, 63, remains on death watch, the period of special security for inmates who are within three days of execution. On Wednesday, he selected his last meal: pickled pig knuckles and pig tails.

The crime

Zagorski, who has been on death row for 34 years, was convicted of murdering John Dale Dotson and Jimmy Porter in April 1983. He shot them, slit their throats and stole their money and a truck. The two men had expected to buy 100 pounds of marijuana from Zagorski.

Legal maneuvers

Zagorski’s attorneys have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to delay the execution so separate issues can be considered.

Zagorski’s attempts for a delay were successful earlier this month, when Gov. Bill Haslam temporarily postponed Zagorski’s Oct. 11 execution date so that prison staff could prepare the electric chair.

Tennessee’s electric chair protocol: How the state plans to kill Edmund Zagorski

But the odds seem longer this time — the Supreme Court already declined to intervene in the case earlier this month.

The challenge filed Wednesday with the Supreme Court focuses on potential errors made when Zagorski was tried for killing two men in Robertson County.

A separate challenge with the 6th Circuit also focused on his attorneys’ objections to the electric chair, the method Zagorski chose for his execution. It was denied Wednesday night.

Zagorski’s attorneys said Wednesday they would also appeal the electric chair challenge to the high court. 

A provocative choice: Edmund Zagorski has chosen the electric chair over lethal injection. Will other inmates do the same?

U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger dismissed those arguments earlier this week. The Tennessee attorney general’s office said the appeals court should do the same, since Zagorski had selected the method himself.

His attorneys argued he had been forced to choose between two torturous execution methods: lethal injection and electrocution. Their contention was that neither should be used.

Billy Ray Irick was executed by lethal injection Thursday,
Undated photo of Paula Dyer, who was seven-years-old
This is the grave marker for Paula K. Dyer in Glenwood
please correct spelling to DYER: Kathy Jeffers, mother

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Billy Ray Irick, on death row for raping and killing
Angie Kliebert heard the news the day Paula K. Dyer
Rae Tennent comforts Anna Reside, left, during a protest

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Protesters gather outside of the Riverbend Maximum

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Pro-death penalty supporter Rick Laude of Nashville

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Protesters gather outside of the Riverbend Maximum

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Fr. John Boylan of Christ the Prophet Church in Spring

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Jon Warkentin of Nashville gathers with protesters

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Tennessee executions since 2000: Robert Glen Coe; Date
Jerry Medlin, father of Cary Medlin, rests against
TBI Inspector Jack Blackwell, left, leads Robert Glen
Photo taken of Robert Glen Coe after his arrest at
Max Speight, center, of Dresden, Tenn., defense attorney
Security was tight at the Obion County Courthouse as
Danny Tinnell, right, accounting manager for Riverbend

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Robert Glen Coe, center, smiles at the cameras a few

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The first witness for the defense was Dr. James R.

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Robert Glen Coe was very distracting to the court during

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Charlotte Stout, mother of the victim, leans her head

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Robert Glen Coe is surrounded by the defense team just

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Charlotte Stout, mother of the victim, reads a letter

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Robert Glen Coe sits in the hearing in his own little

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Condemned killer Robert Glen Coe yells through his
Part of the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution

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Attorney General Paul Summers, left, is flanked by

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Joyce V. Judge, executive director of NAMI Tennessee,

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Harmon Wray is grabbed by two officers and is one of

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Tom Kimmel is one of 19 protesters arrested by Tennessee

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Abraham Bonowitz, who from a citizens group in Florida,

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A death penalty protester sign rest on the wall in

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Father Michael Johnston, left, and Alvin Haas put a

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Charlotte Stout spoke during a Mermorial service for

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A group of television reporters are interviewing Coalition

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Robert Glen Coe's sister, front left, mitigation specialist

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One of only a handful of death penalty advocates at

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Upon seeing death penalty opponents lighting candles

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Brock Mitchel Slentz holds a candle in silent vigil
Members of the Robert Glenn Coe family leave the Riverbend

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Charlotte Ann Stout, center, mother of Carey Medlin,

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Tennessee Department of Corrections PIO Steve Hayes

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Ruth Ventrice, Kenneth Odom and Liz Sodergren, opponents
Attorney General Paul Summers addresses the media in

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Attorney General Paul Summers addresses the media in

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Associated Press reporter Kent Flanagan was one of

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Tennessean reporter Kirk Loggins was one of the witnesses

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Dr. Bruce Levy, the Metro Medical Examiner that performed

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Dr. Bruce Levy, the Metro Medical Examiner, shows the

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Jimmy Coe, of Atwood, Tenn, brother of Robert Glen

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People watch a film made by Dixie Gamble about the

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Tennessee executions since 2000: Sedley Alley; Date
Attorney Barry Scheck holds a chart of the DNA Testing

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Defense attorneys Kelly Henry, left, and Barry Scheck

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Trudy Collins, center, mother of murder victim Suzanne

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Kirk Bloodsworth, right, wipes tears away while testifying

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Chairman Charles Traughber, left, talks with defense

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Kenny Mullins prays for prisoners Sedley Alley and

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Alex Wiesendanger prays for prisoners Sedley Alley

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Volunteer prison chaplain Jerry Nail prays alone by

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With Riverbend Maximum Security Institution looming

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Matthew Bond, left, and Kathy Masulis of Nashville
A group protesting against the death penalty keeps
Randy Tatel, Executive Director of Tennessee coalition
The media witnesses leave the Riverbend Maximum Security

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Protestors against the death penalty walk to their
Tennessee executions since 2000: Phillip Workman; Date

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Randy Tatel, left' Executive Director for the Tennessee
Terry Workman, right, pleads for his brothers life
Randy Tatel, left, Andrea Murdock, Ann Cover and Kaye

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Rabbi Ken Kanter, left, representing the covenant association,

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Death row inmate Phillip Workman reads a passage from

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Death row inmate Phillip Workman ponders his answer

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Linda Polk, center, hugs Robert Glen Coe's sisters

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Tennessee executions since 2000: Daryl Holton; Date
Gary Holton, center, uncle of alleged killer Daryl
Daryl Holton, center, is led out of the Shelbyville
Rev. Stacy Rector, left, Michael Kelsh and Tom Kimmel
Carmela Malabanan, left, Kristina Richards and Erin

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Death penalty opponent Ed Lonis reads during a vigil

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Witnesses and prison officials come out of Riverbend

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Witnesses and prison officials come out of Riverbend

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The Reverend Stacy Rector, right, sings at a Service

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Hector Black of Cookeville, Tenn., speaks about the

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Tennessee executions since 2000: Steve Henley; Date
Ann Lea makes calls at The Tennessee Coalition Against
Field Organizer Isaac Kimes makes a call at The Tennessee
Field Organizer Isaac Kimes makes a call at The Tennessee

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Family members of Steve Henley, who is scheduled to

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A prayer service was held at the Brookmeade Congregational

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Menzo Faassen, left, Lyle Mclebain and James Staub

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Paul B. Davidson, Steve Henley's attorney, waits at

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With the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution's lights

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About 50 people showed up at Riverbend Maximum Security

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A protestor prays for Steve Henley as a crowd of about

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Priscilla Coe, left, and Amy Sayward pray during a

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Greg Henley and his sister Leanne make a statement

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Tennessee executions since 2000: Cecil C. Johnson,
Detectives Bill Robeck, left, and Gordon Larkin, right,

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Cecil Johnson , right, listerns as attorneys question

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Relatives of Cecil Johnson comfort each other outside

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Bob Bell's Market photo in the Cecil Johnson's case
Bob Bell's Market photo of a empty cash register in
Cecil Johnson, second from left, in a line up photo
Geoff Little, center, prays during a service Dec. 1,
Stacy Rector speaks to protesters outside the Riverbend

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Stacy Rector speaks to protesters outside the Riverbend
Death penalty opponents pray outside the Riverbend
Karen Rybolt, far right, participates in a candlelight
Death penatly opponents hold a candle-light vigil outside

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Trauger did say that the state must provide Zagorski’s attorney Kelley Henry with a telephone before and during the execution. Henry said she needed a phone to contact a judge if something went wrong.

Telephone ruling: Tennessee can’t execute Edmund Zagorski unless his lawyer gets access to a phone

The state has yet to say if it will honor Trauger’s ruling, but they have not appealed it. Late Wednesday, Trauger ordered the state to explain how it would follow her instructions.

What will happen Thursday night

Here is the process Zagorski will go through if his execution moves forward Thursday, according to the state’s protocol for electrocution.

  • At 7 p.m., prison staff will take Zagorski out of his cell next to the execution chamber. He will be led to the electric chair.
  • Staff will strap Zagorski into the chair with an “electric chair harness and wrist straps.” Four sponges soaked in salt water will be strapped around his ankles to increase conductivity.
  • At 7:10 p.m., blinds to the witness rooms will open and the warden will ask Zagorski for last words.
  • After that, prison staff will place another sponge soaked in salt water on Zagorski’s head. Staff will then place the electric chair “head piece” on Zagorski’s head. They will also place a shroud around his face.
  • More salt brine will be poured over the ankle sponges.
  • The warden will give the signal to proceed, and the executioner will activate the electric chair.
  • The electric chair will release 1,750 volts of electricity for 20 seconds, will stop for 15 seconds and then will release 1,750 volts for another 15 seconds.
  • After the first wave of two jolts, officials will wait five minutes and then close the blinds into the witness room.
  • A doctor will check Zagorski for signs of life. If there are none, the doctor will pronounce him dead.
  • If Zagorski is still alive, the blinds will be raised, another round of electricity will be administered and the doctor will be called in again.

When was the last execution?

Death row inmate Billy Ray Irick died by lethal injection at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution on Thursday, Aug. 9.

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Who is the next inmate scheduled to die?

David Earl Miller is scheduled to die Dec 11. Miller, of Knox County, was convicted of the 1981 murder of a mentally disabled young woman. 

Reach Adam Tamburin at 615-726-5986 and [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @tamburintweets.

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