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Death row inmate supporters rally at Blount County Courthouse after failed execution of Tony Carruthers.Death row inmate supporters rally at Blount County Courthouse after failed execution of Tony Carruthers Family, friends and supporters seek to halt December execution following failed Carruthers attempt MARYVILLE, Tenn.— Supporters of death row inmate Gary Wayne Sutton gathered at the Blount County Courthouse, where he was convicted of two murders 30 years ago, calling for the state to stop his scheduled execution.Previous Coverage: Execution date set for Tennessee death row inmate convicted of two 1992 murders The group arrived days after the state’s failed execution attempt of Tony Carruthers on Thursday.Medical personnel charged with administering the lethal drugs failed to find a vein.The staff attempted to locate a suitable vein for more than an hour and a half before abandoning the attempt.Carruthers was returned to his prison cell.Sutton’s supporters said they fear he will face the same experience when his execution date arrives Dec.“When we found out what happened, it’s just, it’s horrible.And yes, I cried.I cried for two days,” Carolyn Weaver, a longtime friend of Sutton, said.“I cried because of what we’re afraid Gary’s going to have to go through.” Blount County District Attorney Ryan Desmond, in a statement, said the case has been reviewed by multiple offices and juries, including the Tennessee Supreme Court.He said every review shows Sutton is guilty of double murder.“The facts and evidence surrounding the case against Gary Sutton have been carefully reviewed by two separate impartial juries, two separate prosecutors offices, the state attorney general’s office, numerous trial judges, multiple panels of the court of criminal appeals, and the Tennessee Supreme Court,” Desmond said.“Every single instance of consideration and review has resulted in the conclusion that Mr.Sutton is guilty of double murder for which he was sentenced to death.” Sutton has been on death row since 1996.He was convicted by two separate juries for the murders of Connie Branam and her brother, Tommy Griffin, in 1992.Branam’s body was discovered in her burned vehicle, and Griffin was shot to death.Sutton’s attorney, Randy Spivey, said the case has been riddled with problems and Sutton has maintained his innocence.Spivey said the scientific evidence linking Sutton to the case came from disgraced state medical examiner Charles Harlan, who was later stripped of his license.“There is no motive for the crime and no direct evidence linking Gary to the murder of his friend Tommy Griffin,” Spivey said.“Gary is also intellectually disabled and has a claim on this pending in state court.” Background on Carruthers case Carruthers was scheduled to die by lethal injection at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville.According to a witness, reporters who were present were escorted to a dark room during the attempted execution, where they could hear the grunts of a man they assumed was Carruthers as staff was trying to find a vein.Carruthers’ execution stems from a 1994 triple murder conviction.He was convicted of the kidnapping and murder of 17-year-old Frederick Tucker, 21-year-old Marcellous Anderson, and Anderson’s 43-year-old mother, Delores Anderson.The three victims were buried in a freshly dug grave at a South Memphis cemetery.Carruthers has been on death row since April 1996.WVLT News reached out to Lee’s office for comment on the Carruthers failed execution and contacted the Department of Corrections to ask what they would do differently for future executions, but we haven’t heard back.Copyright 2026 WVLT.All rights reserved.Join The Conversation We want to hear what you think.Create a free account to share your thoughts.Read our community guidelines here.