Disease and suicide are claiming inmates on Alabama's death row faster than the executioner.
With Alabama's capital punishment mechanism on hold for more than two years because of legal challenges and a shortage of drugs for lethal injections, five of the state's death row inmates have died without ever seeing the inside of the execution chamber.
Prison officials say three inmates have died of natural causes since the state's last execution on July 25, 2013. Two others committed suicide by hanging themselves.
With 189 people currently on death row, the state is trying to resume executions. But legal challenges could be a roadblock.
The state is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by death row inmate over the use of a new sedative for lethal injections.