Riverbend Maximum Security Institution
Coverage of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in the Nexus archive.
- GOP lawmakers call for review of Tennessee’s execution process after failed lethal injection in 2026
Tennessee Republican senators are calling for an independent review of the state's execution process following a failed lethal injection attempt for death row inmate Tony Von Carruthers in May 2026. The execution was halted after the team could not establish a backup IV line, citing past issues with the Department of Correction's compliance with lethal injection protocols.
- June 22: Former Death Row Prisoner Abu-Ali Abdur’Rahman Dies; Glenn Funk Adds a Job
Abu-Ali Abdur’Rahman, a Tennessee death row prisoner, died of liver cancer at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. His death sentence was set aside in 2019 due to prosecutorial misconduct and racial bias, leading to a 2021 life sentence. Glenn Funk, Nashville District Attorney, played a key role in the legal reversal.
- Tennessee halts man’s execution after being unable to find vein for lethal injection, attorney says
Tennessee halted the execution of Tony Carruthers after medical personnel failed to establish required IV lines for lethal injection, despite efforts lasting over an hour. The case highlights ongoing challenges states face with execution procedures, with similar incidents occurring recently in Idaho and Alabama. Carruthers was convicted in 1994 of three murders primarily based on witness testimony, with questions raised about his mental competency and trial representation.