William Mathews in the botched execution of Jesse Tafero

David Brierton prepared an investigative report regarding the Tafero execution (Pet. Ex. 24, No. 40). Appended to that report are statements of witnesses to the execution. Frank Kilgo, attending physician, reported that after the first application of current was stopped, "spasmodic respiratory sounds were audible" (Pet. Ex. 24, No. 40). After the second application of current, "spasmodic respiratory sounds produced oral and nasal fluid gurgling" (Pet. Ex. 24, No. 40).

Rankin Brown reported that after the first application of current, Tafero "appeared to take several breaths" (Pet. Ex. 24, No. 40). Alan Martin reported that after the first application of current, "I noticed the body move as if to be gasping for air" (Pet. Ex. 24, No. 40). William Mathews reported that after the first application of current, "the body began to exhibit fasiculations (motor movement) of the left lower leg and the body sighed approximately twice, making a gurgling noise" (Pet. Ex. 24, No. 40). After the second application of current, Mathews reported, "the body sighed approximately twice with a gurgling noise" (Pet. Ex. 24, No. 40). Gary McLain, reported that after the first application of current, "I observed what appeared to be deep breaths taken by Tafero" (Pet. Ex. 24, No. 40). After the second application of current, McLain "observed what appeared to be a couple of deep breaths from Tafero" (Pet. Ex. 24, No. 40).