BATON ROUGE, La. (2/12/2025) – Governor Jeff Landry has announced a finalized Louisiana death penalty protocol, ensuring the state can carry out death sentences. The updated protocol includes nitrogen hypoxia, a method recently approved by the Louisiana Legislature.
“For too long, Louisiana has failed to uphold the promises made to victims of violent crimes,” said Landry. “That failure ends now.”
The governor emphasized that Louisiana will proceed with executions to deliver long-awaited justice. “These cases have been reviewed at every judicial level, with decades of unsuccessful appeals. I expect district attorneys to finalize these cases and the courts to move swiftly,” he added.
Rapides Parish District Attorney Phillip Terrell acted immediately following Landry’s briefing, filing a motion for a death warrant for Larry Roy. Roy was convicted in 1994 of two counts of first-degree murder in the brutal killings of Freddie Richard Jr., 33, and Rosetta H. Silas, 75. A Rapides Parish Judge signed the order, scheduling Roy’s execution for March 19, 2025, between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the Angola Louisiana State Penitentiary.
“Larry Roy’s appeals have been exhausted,” Terrell stated. “With the guidance of Governor Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrell, the state now has a realistic method of execution. I have long advocated for nitrogen hypoxia as a painless method. Now, we can finally bring justice to the survivors of Roy’s crimes.”
The Case Against Larry Roy
Roy was found guilty in July 1994 for the 1993 murders of Richard and Silas. The jury unanimously sentenced him to death in August 1994. Roy had been in a relationship with Richard’s ex-wife and had been living with her and her two sons. After she and Richard renewed their relationship, Roy broke into their home while they slept. He attacked and murdered Richard, tied up the woman and her sons ages 8 and 10 and slit their throats. He then fatally stabbed Silas while the children remained in the house.
Roy’s clemency request was denied in 2023. DA Terrell, with support from the victims’ families, successfully filed an injunction to stop his clemency hearing. The Louisiana Board of Pardons rejected Roy’s appeal after an administrative review in November 2023.
Louisiana death penalty protocol
The newly implemented execution protocol outlines the use of nitrogen hypoxia. The process involves fitting a specialized mask onto the inmate’s face, replacing oxygen with nitrogen gas until death occurs. The Louisiana State Penitentiary will follow Alabama’s model, ensuring all systems are operational before the execution. The inmate may give a final statement, and medical monitors will confirm the execution’s completion.
Opposition to the Death Penalty
While state officials argue the new protocol brings justice, opposition remains. UrbanCast reached out to Michael McClanahan, President of the NAACP Louisiana State Conference, who strongly condemned the decision.
“Executions do not serve justice,” McClanahan said. “We refuse to stand by while Louisiana resurrects the racist cruelties of the past, echoing the brutal injustices of lynching and slavery. This is especially offensive during Black History Month, a time meant to honor freedom and accomplishment. The death penalty was wrong then, and it is wrong now.”
The execution of Larry Roy will be one of the first in Louisiana under the newly adopted nitrogen hypoxia protocol. As the March 19 date approaches, the debate over capital punishment in Louisiana intensifies.
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