John Evans

John Evans became part of the modern history of problematic American executions because of what happened in Alabama on April 22, 1983. The case is included in the Death Penalty Information Center’s compilation of well-known botched or failed executions.

The execution case

After the first jolt, sparks and flames erupted near the leg electrode. Physicians found a heartbeat after the first and second cycles. A third jolt was administered before Evans was pronounced dead.

Outcome

John Evans died after three electrical jolts and visible fire and smoke. That outcome places the case in the same historical network as other American execution failures, including Romell Broom, Doyle Hamm, Clayton Lockett, Joseph Wood, Willie Francis and, in 2026, Christa Pike.

Why this profile matters

This distinction is especially useful for cases such as John Evans, where public interest often centers on the execution itself rather than only on the original conviction.

Sources

– Death Penalty Information Center — Botched Executions (case entry for John Evans)