The state refused to say where it got a lethal injection drug just days before a scheduled execution in February. Now sources tell The Lens that it came from Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. "Had we known of the real use,” said a member of the board of directors, “we never would have done it.”

The Lens tried unsuccessfully for a year to determine when the state's lethal-injection drugs were due to expire, but prison officials repeatedly said they had no public records that showed such a date. Recently acquired documents show the state in fact had emails, letters and other records that reveal that information and more.

Tuesday night, an inmate in Oklahoma reportedly writhed on a gurney after being declared unconscious. Louisiana’s execution method would use the same sedative, but in a much lower dosage. Death-penalty opponents say such a low dosage may not prevent suffering.