The serial killer who survived the execution. He is one of the longest serving death row inmates in the US

An American serial killer who spent 50 years behind bars for dozens of crimes miraculously escaped execution after Idaho prison staff who were to give him a lethal injection failed to find a viable vein .

Thomas Eugene Creech had been in prison since 1974 and was to die by lethal injection on February 28. The 73-year-old murderer was convicted of killing five people, but was involved in dozens of other crimes. He himself admitted to committing 42 murders, but investigators believe this is an exaggeration on his part.

Creech, one of America’s longest-serving death row inmates, prepared to finally meet his fate as he enjoyed a hearty last meal of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and ice cream.

After spending his last moments with his wife, he was given a light sedative in accordance with prison policy. And then came the moment of execution. But it seems he was in for a big surprise. Creech was taken to a specially built execution chamber in the maximum security prison in Kuna, Idaho at 10:00 a.m. local time.

One of the longest serving death row inmates in the US

For nearly an hour, the prison team tried ten times to set up an intravenous line for the lethal injection, but finally gave up. At 10:58 a guard approached the prisoner, whispered something in his ear, and then announced that the execution had been called off.

Six Idaho officials, including Attorney General Raul Labrador, and four members of the media witnessed the attempted execution. With each attempt to insert a catheter, which took several minutes, doctors had to clean Creech’s skin with alcohol, inject a numbing solution, clean the skin again, and then try again to insert the IV catheter into a another vein.

According to witnesses, the inmate, whose arms were tied to a table, extended his fingers to family members and lawyers who were in another room. He was also seen mouthing the words “I love you” to someone.

The team that performed the lethal injections included volunteers who, according to the state’s execution protocol, were required to have at least three years of medical experience. Thomas Eugene Creech’s death sentence has now expired and it is not clear when he might try to execute him again or what the next legal steps will be, according to stirileprotv.ro.